A Toast to the Mamas . . .

Here’s to the mamas who breastfeed their babies.

Here’s to the mamas who use formula.

Here’s to the mamas who work 9-5.

Here’s to the mamas who stay home.

Here’s to the mamas adorned in yoga pants.

Here’s to the mamas dressed to the nines.

Here’s to the mamas who only do organic.

Here’s to the mamas who only do what’s on sale.

Here’s to the tired, frazzled mamas with kids under foot.

Here’s to the mamas of the quiet empty nest.

Here’s to the mamas who had c-sections.

Here’s to the mamas who went all natural.

Here’s to the mamas rockin’ a bikini bod.

Here’s to the mamas sportin’ a muumuu to cover their excess love.

Here’s to the mamas with clean, matching children.

Here’s to the mamas of littles with mismatched shoes, messy hair, and sticky faces.

Here’s to the mamas who send their kiddos to public school.

Here’s to the mamas who homeschool.

Here’s to the mamas with one and done.

Here’s to the mamas with four and wanting more.

Here’s to all the mamas everywhere and in between – you are rocking this mama thing!

Motherhood is hard, like crazy hard! There are days when you long to run away and change your name to anything other than mom. And yet, there are days when you feel as though your heart could burst with love and adoration for your littles. Such is the pendulum swing of motherhood. It’s a beautiful chaos. We tend to think that every other mama has it figured out. Truth be told, no one has it all together. We are all works-in-progress, trying our best to meet the demands of life. So for just one day, can we set aside our differences and focus on that which unites us?

Motherhood: As mamas, we worry for the future; we struggle with our own feelings of inadequacy; we sometimes get lost in the sea of demands of motherhood; we are tired and in desperate need of a nap; we often compare our weaknesses to another mama’s strengths; we love with every fiber of our being; we cry when we’re happy, sad, or mad; and we may secretly long for a magic wand.

So, beautiful mamas, let’s STOP comparing ourselves with that imaginary perfect mom. Let’s STOP criticizing the mama with the toddler in epic meltdown mode at the grocery store. And let’s STOP pointing fingers at one another. The world has more than enough nay-sayers. Let us be advocates for one another, for motherhood, and for our children. Let us be patient with each other; agree to disagree, but still get along; give each other the benefit of the doubt; mourn together; be real with each other; and celebrate one another’s successes. Let us look up, reach out, and love the mamas in our lives (including ourselves). After all, we are more alike than we are different.

Here’s to mamas everywhere – the hot messes, the imperfect, and the unique. You are doing better than you think!

-Love me- Kristen