Let us close our eyes and send loving thoughts to all mothers of the world doing their absolute best despite their circumstances.
Dear You.
Dear wonderful, sweet tired, worn-out You.
Sit down. Rest.
Clear your mind of all thoughts.
Forget the morning’s drama. Forget the battle cries. Forget the way things just didn’t go well this morning.
Rest. Let go of the day’s worries and stresses. Just be.
Know this. Know just this.
You are doing a great job.
In the middle of all of what you see as mistakes and failures and imperfections there is so much perfection and beauty.
You are their Sunshine. Their umbrella. Their warm blanket. Their hand to hold.
You are their patient. Their student. Their baby to babysit. Their fellow swashbuckling pirate.
Their monster-scare-awayer.
You are not told it enough but you are loved.
You are loved for how, at the end of the day, you make everything better with a single kiss and a bedtime story.
Love you to the moon, and back.
You are loved for your gentle touch and playful laugh even when all you feel like doing is taking a nap.
Sleep little baby don’t say a word.
You are loved for how you bring everyone together by offering a nourishing meal, a good night’s rest, clothes that match, games to play, piles upon piles of books to read.
You are loved for making sure everything is just the way it needs to be. Always. Day after day. Season after season. Year after year. Phase after phase.
In the middle of what you see as mistakes and failures and imperfections there is so much perfection and beauty.
You.
Your warmth. Your security. Your faith. Your trust. Your love. Your give-everything-you’ve-got heart. Your it-will-be-ok messages. Your eat-your-veggies please pleas.
There may not be a village holding you up.
There may not be a village patting you on the back. There may not be a village giving you a break. There may not even be a village there to catch you when you fall.
Catch yourself.
Catch yourself doing things right. Catch yourself doing things well. Catch yourself being full of love.
Catch yourself doing your very best.
Appreciate yourself and all that you offer to the world. Show yourself the love that you’ve been longing to receive. Immerse yourself in the joy of living as a precious gift to yourself.
Wear the crown of Mother proudly. Let it shine upon your kind soul and light up the world as much as you light up your children.
And at the end of the day, you will be there.
You.
Even when they are gone. Even when you are apart. Even when times are hard.
You will always be their mother.
And everyone is just fine. They are doing great. They are wonderful. Amazing.
Because of you.
Oh yes … because of you.
Nicole
“In the middle of what you see as mistakes and failures and imperfections there is so much perfection and beauty.”
You speak to the very heart of being a mom, you live it, breathe it … and own it… thank you for speaking to me in a way I felt no one could understand…
This is a Mother’s Day Gift only a Mother could truly appreciate.
Thank you.
awakeshawn
Thank you, Nicole. I take my job as Mom pretty seriously. ; ) Happy Mother’s Day to you. I hope you have a wonderful, relaxing day. Of course, I wish that for all mothers every day.
Lindsey Mead (@lemead)
Oh, this makes me cry. Hard. Thank you. I needed to hear it tonight. xox
awakeshawn
Thank you, Lindsey. Your words mean so much to me because I believe I wrote this to myself as much as I wrote it to you. xoxo
Jacqui
Shawna – this could not have come a better time for me. I have been seriously questioning my abilty to parent well, concentrating on what I am not doing. Your words really spoke to me today and I recognize what I AM DOING!
Lots and lots.
Thank you for your reassurance, I shed tears of feeling supported.
I am printing this and putting it in my office as a reminder.
Thank you ❤
awakeshawn
Jacqui, Thank YOU. I am always hopeful yet amazed when my words find the right hearts. So glad you found this village. You are welcome here anytime and you are supported here absolutely. xoxo
Sapna
I don’t know you-don’t even usually subscribe to blogs- but this one is wonderful. Your words are kind and speak to my heart. Thank you for writing, xxx
awakeshawn
Sapna, your kind words are a true gift to me. Thank you. xoxo
Julia
Thank you. From a mom without much a village, who tries hard to be centered and present for my kids every day, I needed to hear that. it made me cry. you are a gift. love back to you this mother’s day.
awakeshawn
Julia. I’m so happy that you found this village then because you are heard here. Happy Mother’s Day to you.
Andrea
Thank you. Needed to read this today!
awakeshawn
Andrea … xoxo
mothering spirit
Thank you for this. I was just about to send a snarky email to my husband about how he shouldn’t waste his time doing anything for me for Mother’s Day b/c I’m too stressed out and feeling like a cruddy mother these days anyway. I needed a deep breath this morning and this was it.
awakeshawn
Sometimes snarky emails are necessary but I am happy you have taken this deep breath. You deserve a few of those because I am certain you are doing a great job. xoxo
Terri Thompson (@Creativefamfun)
So beautiful! Thank you!
Thatmom
I’m always amazed and delighted when the message I need reaches me the way that it does. Thank you for sharing it and trust that it was well received (and I’m sharing it with other mommies who need to read it.) Continued Blessings!
Pingback: Episode 19: Kids are Mothered « Kids Are Hard!
dani'smom
Thank you for this! As a new mom I question the job I’m doing every day…thank you, thank you, thank you! I am going to bookmark this and come back often! much love and blessings to you and your family!
awakeshawn
Thank you, Dani’s Mom … I’m not sure that we can ever stop doubting and questioning what we’re doing but we certainly can own up to the positives that we do as well. xoxo
Pingback: How to Raise a Mother « Awesomely Awake
Pingback: Beautiful Faces. Magical Places. — Hannah Marcotti
raisingmyboys
Thank you thank you thank you. 🙂
awakeshawn
xoxo to you. thank YOU.
Pingback: happy mother’s day « Project Mommy Brain
Pingback: Love Letter to Mothers Everywhere | Lasso the Moon
Bethany Hoffman
Stumbled upon your blog this morning, of all mornings, and found this post. It was exactly what I needed! Thank you! You are such a gifted writer~
boymamateachermama
I needed this today! Thank you for your wonderful words!
cstewardconsulting
Reblogged this on Mom-Wi and commented:
Being broken down for too long, I needed to hear this tonight and plan to share with every mom I know.
cstewardconsulting
Reblogged this on Mom-Wi and commented:
Being broken down for too long, I needed to hear this tonight and plan to share with every mom I know.