MORE THAN ENOUGH

For all the mamas out there who carried a baby in their womb - who watched their bellies expand, their hips widen, the number on the scale creep up, the tiger stripes appear, and felt the first flicker of life within; for those mamas who experienced the devastating events of a miscarriage again and again; for those mamas whose arms ache and long to hold a baby, but are not able to conceive; for those mamas who opened their hearts to love a child not of their flesh; for those mamas who are not "technically" mamas but love, teach, nurture, and make the world a little brighter for a child; for those mamas who are in desperate need of sleep and long for a nap; for those mamas who are nursing sweet babies, changing diapers, and drying tears; for those mamas who are battling with a defiant toddler day in and day out; for those mamas who cried as they sent their child off to kindergarten; for those mamas who care for their chronically ill child; for those mamas with broken hearts who have had to bury a child; for those mamas who help with homework and in the classroom; for those mamas who stay-at-home and long for adult interaction; for those mamas who work outside the home and try to balance it all; for those mamas who have teenagers and feel under-appreciated; for those mamas who are empty-nesters; for those mamas who are now grandmas; for those mamas who long for sticky kisses, hand prints on the wall, and a sleeping baby on their chest; for those mamas who lay awake with worry for the future; for those mamas who feel overwhelmed, stressed, and alone; for those mamas whose husbands work late or out-of-town, for those mamas whose husbands serve in the military; for those mamas who are doing it alone - trying to fulfill the role of both father and mother; for those mamas whose favorite time of the day is when all the kids are asleep and the house is finally quiet; for those mamas who sacrifice their interests for the betterment of the family; for those mamas who long to go to the bathroom, shower, or change their clothes without the paparazzi of children in tow; for those mamas who have a wayward child; for those mamas who long to be as "fat" as they thought they were in high school; for those mamas who feel like they are drowning in the sea of life; for those mamas who feel that they don't measure up, that they're not good enough, skinny enough or pretty enough; for those mamas who feel like they don’t deserve to be celebrated on Mother’s Day . . .

TO ALL THE MAMAS OUT THERE - YOU ARE ENOUGH! YOU ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH. YOU ARE A DAUGHTER OF GOD. HE LOVES YOU. HE DESIRES YOUR HAPPINESS. HE CRIES WHEN YOU CRY. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER LONGS TO HEAR FROM YOU, COMFORT YOU, WRAP YOU IN HIS ARMS AND TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, IMPORTANT. AND DOING A WONDERFUL WORK!

Motherhood sure isn't easy. It's by far the hardest thing I have ever done. No one explains how difficult and trying it's going to be and if they did - I don't think we'd listen. It's hard to find adequate words to describe the wonder of motherhood. The highlights, the exquisite joy, the perks of motherhood come in all shapes and sizes in the various seasons of life - from a baby nuzzling against your neck, her soft breath on your skin, her sweet "baby smell," her breathing finding rhythm with your own; to your toddler singing you "Su-shine" and gently caressing your face as he drifts off to sleep; to being slapped with kisses, wrapped in hugs, and told, I Love You Mom; to watching your son “shake it” in an attempt to make you smile when you are sad and hurting; to hugging your son/daughter for the first time after an extended time away. These “moments” and countless others, triumph the heartache, the stress, and sleepless nights that come with motherhood. The days may be long, but the years are short.

I tip my hat to all the mothers out there - you are better than you think you are and you are doing an amazing job! The likelihood of your children ending up on a psychologist’s couch discussing what you believe to be your “many failings as a mother” is highly unlikely. Give yourself a break. God entrusted these precious children to you because He knew YOU were the best fit for them. Take comfort in knowing that we’re not in this alone, Heavenly Father will guide us, if we but ask. After all, He knows our children better than we do.

So dear mamas, be YOU - beautiful, perfectly imperfect you! I give you permission to enjoy Mother’s Day this year. Stop comparing yourself to the fictitious “perfect mother” of your imagination and celebrate the amazing opportunity you have to love and be loved in return. And remember YOU ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH! Happy Mother's Day!

~Love me~ Kristen