What you may not be telling yourself

Let me tell you what you may not be telling yourself.

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You are a good mom. Imperfect moments don’t make a bad mother. Perfect in motherhood doesn’t exist.

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Your children love you as you are. However that looks. Whether that means wearing makeup or not, having fancy clothes or wearing the same thing as three years ago. Regardless of your size, your hair style, the marks on your skin, they love you.

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You are working so hard right now. Caring for your children, playing with your children, being with your children is productive. Everything that comes with being a mother on top of mothering your children counts too. The mental load is huge. You are carrying so much. I hope you see how strong you are.

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Your children will always need you. Maybe not in the way they do now. As their lifeline. Their hands, their feet, their voice. But you will remain an important piece of their puzzle. They will not outgrow the need to be loved and supported.

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You are allowed to miss your former life some days. Days of yourself, doing things in your own time, and not rushing. Missing them has absolutely nothing to do with loving and being grateful for your current stage. One day, the same will be said for your current.

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You don’t need to justify your parenting decisions. You don’t owe others an explanation for your why. Not now, not ever. But you do owe it to yourself and your children to believe that.

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On your hard days, you are seen.

In your long nights, you are seen.

In all of what you do, your love is seen.

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So tell it to yourself.

And tell it to every mother you know

Just tell it.

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Because this narrative needs telling more.

This is what we all deserve to hear.