Last night, I posted on my Facebook wall that we struggled yesterday. It was one of those days that just didn't feel right, it didn't look right, and it ended with tears, early bedtimes and regret. The Facebook post, I believe, touched a few mamas who were feeling overworked, under appreciated, and questioning each and every one of their mama moves that day. I got texts, and private messages, and even a call saying, "I needed to hear that you struggled, because so did I."
It's just so easy to assume we're never doing enough, or the right thing, or that surely we're ruining these precious gifts we've been given and making a mess of it all. The thing of it is that we're not alone, we're actually all together. We're all rocking the screaming baby wishing it would maybe just disappear for a few minutes. We're all reading "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" for the millionth time wishing we were somewhere, anywhere else. We all are covered in spit up, have been wearing the same pants as we were yesterday, and wondering if this is as good as it gets. We feel trapped sometimes because THEY ARE ALWAYS HERE ASKING ME FOR MILK! We feel like we are missing out on something more because surely someone out there has a cleaner house, less laundry, happier kids, more crafts, more important jobs, sexier marriages, and less oily hair. But, it's just not true. We are all the same. We dust, and yell, and lose our patience, and drive to practices, and have oily hair because we love. We love so deep it hurts. God, it hurts. We matter. We're doing a job that no one else in the world could do. Even if it's messy, and ugly, and sad some days, the bigger picture is beautiful.
Mamas, we're all doing our best. All of our "bests" look different. Love isn't about what it looks like, it's about what it feels like so forget about keeping up with your neighbor. Build her up because you never know... behind her smile and put togetherness, she probably feels just the way you do. Love creates that bond, and that's just what we do. We love.
From one mama to the next, you're doing awesome. Keep it up. And Regan, if one day you read this and wonder if it's okay to feel like you're failing at motherhood some days, or saying "No" too much, or don't have it together as much as you had hoped you would, please know that it just feels that way sometimes to remind you of the other moments that don't feel that way. You're doing it right. I promise.
