Is Motherhood My Thing?

Dear Mothers Everywhere! First and foremost – enjoy your children! Rediscover the world with them, as they revel in the mundane and everyday world you’ve long since taken for granted. Revel in that most mysterious and marvelous thing called maturation. Revel in their infinite capacity to unconditionally trust and love you as no other living thing possibly could. And when you catch yourself taking that for granted, pause. Breathe them in – and revel in the never failing ways your children just keep it -and you – real.” ― Connie Kerbs

Connie Kerbs wrote my heart here. While not written for or with any intent of COVID-19 association, these words are ringing true for me as I navigate the new normal. I am acutely aware that this time together is rare, beautiful, complicated, and chaotic. And given their young ages, I don’t know if my children will remember much beyond some of the silly experiences we’ve curated for them. However, I will never forget this unusual and unprecedented point in history.

I am overwhelmed by the mess and challenged by the chaos. I am saddened by the loss and angered by the negligence. There’s a lot going on in the world and there’s a lot going on in our homes.

I’ve had many life-affirming talks in the last few days and there are many more to come. This pandemic has me doing the soul searching I’ve read about and dreamed of. Now, because there’s no place left to go and I can’t fold one more piece of laundry, I am admitting that in the midst of this I think I’ve found my calling in life. Are you ready? It’s rooted in mothering.

This isn’t because I’m the best mom or the most in love with the role, but rather I find myself genuinely grateful for and inspired by my children right now. Mothering is saving me. Sure we can laugh over the memes, because there are some really good ones out there, and we can trade horror stories about the tantrums or the crafts gone wrong, but despite it all, or maybe because of it all, I’m okay. Moreover, I’m committed to making lemonade out of these lemons.

Mothers get to see and taste life through and with their children. This pandemic is no different. Just as my children drive me , I am inspired and motivated by the moms who are taking the time to rise. I am impressed by and indebted to the moms who are sharing. Whether it be their struggles or successes, I am thankful for their honesty. And as I sift through stuff on this end, I feel drawn to celebrate moms. I’ve known the role to be awesome and humbling before, but this is like nothing I ever expected.

Motherhood is my thing.

Moms, I’m working on more lemonade for you. Until then, keep squeezing the good stuff out of these bad lemons. You make me eager to drink in the flavors of life. Like Kerbs wrote, “And when you catch yourself taking that for granted, pause. Breathe them in – and revel in the never failing ways your children just keep it -and you – real.”