Author: Jennifer Burch, LPC
The True Strength of Mothers
As a mental health professional, I have seen the strength of mothers and the countless happy moments they experience, even during tough times. From sleepless nights and endless responsibilities to balancing work and family, the never-ending tasks can take a toll. It’s okay to feel tired, frustrated, or even lost.
By shifting our perspective to embrace ALL THE THINGS about our experience, the good and the hard, we can truly see the power in our ability to shape our little people…and how they shape us in return.
GIVE A GIFT TO YOURSELF – start a journal that documents all of your GET TOs as a mom. Include personal thoughts, family stories, kid quotes, inside jokes, moments of joy, and sweet pictures – add to the journal each year.
GET TOs vs. HAVE TOs
Here are a few examples of the joyful GET TOs (big and small) from some moms I know:
- Feeling soft, chubby arms around your neck during a hug.
- Watching them sleep and being in awe of how innocent they are.
- After a busy day and finally ready for bed, they decompress, come into my room, and talk to me about everything happening with them. It makes me so happy that I am still their safe place for chatting as they enter the teen years. I love our bedtime talks.
- A car full of noisy kids. It’s moments where we all load up as a family. We are together, and I can look back in the car and just smile. I have always believed some of the best family memories are created in the car together.
- Handprints on my back sliding glass door. I want to grab the Windex and immediately clean them off, but I stop myself and think they are the cutest little hand prints I’ve ever seen. I know one day I will long for their hands to be that tiny again.
- Feeding my baby, my last baby. It’s a crazy feeling to know it’s the last baby, and how different I am holding on to all. the. things. I feel like for once I am truly slowing down and not wishing ANYTHING away. Even the sleepless nights, they have been ‘easy’ this time, knowing she’s my last- I truly cherish the time.
- When your kids get older and you watch the family home videos, you can feel the joy as you relive the moments of when they were little. It is bittersweet, but amazing, especially when they are sitting right beside you watching.
- Those moments after all the rushing, shopping, cooking, cleaning, repeating yourself over and over, when all you want to do is sit down and have a moment of silence. But then, you breathe in and show up. Show up for Special Olympics, dance recitals, choir concerts…
- That moment when you see your child searching the crowd for you and breaking into the biggest smile when your eyes meet. Those are the moments that melt all the hard things.
- Listening to giggles and the bed squeaking as she wakes up each morning (even when it’s 3:32 am, like this morning ).
- Getting soaked head to toe at bath time while they make whirlpools in the tub.
- Listening to everything he has learned at school or about Pokémon that day.
- Being their go-to when things get overwhelming, being able to calm her anxiety with tight hugs and gentle words.
- Getting to scratch their back before bed every night.
- Playing all kinds of games with them and teaching them to win with grace and lose with dignity.
Happy Mother’s Day from Birthright St. Charles
Let these inspire you to identify your own GET TOs!
Happy Mother’s Day, and remember to be proud of how you show up in your role as a mom!
At Birthright St. Charles, we are here to support women in the many roles they play in the lives of others. We offer free, professional services as we GET TO support you in your challenges and triumphs.
