It got me thinking of what I would write and how I view motherhood right now. I am not a great writer and I try to make sure my writing sounds like my voice so maybe that's why I am not so great but I thought I would write my own essay on what motherhood is for me right now. I'm sure things will change as I grow and learn in this life and as my children grow but for now here is my essay.
Motherhood is a series of goodbyes.
I was watching Downton Abbey last night and over the baby
monitor I heard my 3 year old Eva say, “Momma, come snuggle me.” I pushed pause and went to her room and laid next
to her in her bed. She shimmied closer
to me and played with me hair. I stared
at her sweet face and attempted to stop time.
It was a moment when I realized that someday very soon my sweet girl
would not want to snuggle with me anymore.
Someday I am not going to be her sun, moon and stars. Someday very soon I will be replaced by
others.
This terrifies me to my bones. What am I going to do when I am not the
center of someone’s world?
I often read a poem
by Mary Oliver which helps remind me what motherhood is and what I am expected
to do.
“to live in this world
you must be able to do three things
to love what is mortal;
to hold it
against your bones
knowing your own life depends on it;
and, when the time comes to let it go,
to let it go”
― Mary Oliver
I am trying very hard to be a good mom. I am trying to teach my kids how to steer
through this world and be independent people.
The thing that comes when you teach your kids how to be independent is
independence and it can be like a knife in my heart. Right now I get sad about not being able to
help with silly things like getting
dressed, zipping up coats, using the bathroom but someday it will be bedtime, reading books, and dare I say it...driving!
That’s why I say motherhood is a series of goodbyes. Kids are constantly changing and growing and
you must be able to say goodbye to the sweet 3 year old and welcome the next
sweet stage that comes. It is terrifying
how happy you can be and how sad you can be.
Motherhood is my sun, moon and stars and it will be for the rest of my
life. Right now I am holding my kids
against my bones trying so hard to remember every second of these wonderful
years and prepare for the time to let them go.
I realize how blessed I am to have what I have and I realize how fragile life is and how things can change in an instant. Motherhood can sure be terrifying but still I wouldn't give it up for anything. Motherhood is worth all the worry, guilt, anxiety, fear, and regret. It is the most rewarding thing I have ever experienced. If you ever wonder what the purpose of life is then you should have kids and you will quickly find out. Motherhood has taught me more about life and myself in these short 3 years then I will ever be able to teach my kids.
I am so grateful to be able to be a mother. I look forward to having a new baby and being a mother to a new person. I am so happy.
Happy Mother's Day to everyone!
4 comments:
Dear Daughter.. you are wise wonderful mother.. It is hard that I am not the sun, moon and stars to my children.. but I can be in a different way.. I remember those days of looking into you dear sweet eyes and trying to hold on to those moments.. I remember a dirty little foot print that was on the wall behind the bars of the crib.. I tried to figure out how to save it.. but couldn't.. but the heartache of having to wash it off was too much for me.. so I left it.. I am so proud of you and your motherhood skills and the love you have for your dear children.. Blessings... I love you.. Mom
Happy Mother's Day to you! Like I told you before, your kids are absolutely beautiful and so blessed to have you. You're an awesome mom and are very strong. I've said so often that I learn more from my little guy than I could ever teach him. And I tell him every day he's my very best blessing. I hope you have a wonderful day and you're doing great.
Love,
Shayla
I love this, and happy mother's day!
I'm thinking of posting some other people's Essay's on Motherhood on my blog and would love to share this, (or you can write a new one specifically for this, if you're interested.)
Love you!
Beautiful. How do you know how to sum up our (us mothers) feelings into such beautiful words? I thought there were no words to describe these feelings, but you sure seem to do it. Oh and we're almost at the driving time....but atleast my teenagers still like to snuggle....you can have that forever if you train them right. :-)
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