When I was in the thick of raising four children, I relied on watching other moms. Moms I aspired to be like in lots of ways. Moms who I believed had it together way more than I did.
I could always appreciate a mom who made her own baby food, homeschooled, or had an income stream from a successful blog or Etsy store.
Except, putting my eyes on other moms for too long came with a price. Watching everyone else’s mom-journey quite often made me feel terrible about my own. While I may never be in the running for Mother of the Year, after twenty-three years of parenting I’ve finally learned to celebrate the mom I am.
- I’m that mom who let her son spend the night at a friend’s house and missed his first day of school.
- I’m that mom who sent her daughter to grammar school in pajamas twice—is it my fault pjs look so much like regular school clothes these days?
- I’m that mom who promised we’d go on a trip to Washington D.C. or vowed to spend weekly quality time with each child one day—and never followed through.
- I’m that mom who drove her excited kids around for hours trying to remember which park the birthday party was being held at because I’d lost the invitation—and never found it. By “it” I mean the party.
- I’m that mom who has fed her toddler too much sugar, yelled when I should’ve hugged, and grieved when I wrongfully withheld grace from my teenager.
Celebrate the Truth
Some days I need to take a quick second and celebrate the truth. I was handpicked to do this job. God had my four children on His mind for me from the beginning. He knows I can do this. Whether I think I can or not, He knows I’m the best woman for the task.
- I’m that mom who understood the heart of a blue-eyed little girl who loved books and words and her own imagination. I will stand for hours in any weather to be at the very front of the line to buy her first book one day.
- I’m that mom who kept her cool when her son caught mice and birds with his bare hands, then encouraged him to become a pre-vet student—even when his preschool teacher said he’d never go far in school.
- I’m that mom who brings peace to a fearful teenage girl overwhelmed by chemistry and high school. I have the power to get to her heart and uncover her hidden strengths and rejoice in her love for others.
- I’m that mom of a green-eyed boy who has his father’s mind full of logic and reason. I appreciate his competitive side and secretly embrace the fact he’s now 5’10” and the most affectionate of my four.
I’m praying these next three weeks together at Grace for Moms, as you peek into the lives of lots of women handpicked for the journey of motherhood, that you’ll be able to thank God for your children and celebrate the mom YOU are.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about being a mom it’s that God’s grace is enough. When I put my eyes on Him first, His favor is undeserving and His wisdom overwhelming. He loves me through each mom-moment and that’s where I rest these days.
Moms, what is one thing you plan to celebrate about your beautiful uniqueness this month?
Joanne Kraft is a mom of four and the author of Just Too Busy: Taking your Family on a Radical Sabbatical
She’s been a guest on Focus on the Family, Family Life Today and CBN. Her articles have appeared in ParentLife, In Touch, Thriving Family, P31 Woman and more. Joanne and her husband, Paul, recently moved their family from California to Tennessee and happily traded soy milk and arugula for sweet tea and biscuits. Learn more about Joanne on her website http://joannekraft.com/ Sign up for her weekly newsletter here.
Hi friends, this is Jess! You guys, Joanne Kraft is one of my favorite moms on the planet. She is such an example and encouragement to me. Joanne is the perfect balance of grace and truth in her parenting and in her relationships. Definitely check out her book and plan to join us as she and I host the party celebrating our beautiful mothering uniqueness over the next 3 weeks. Meet us back here daily for encouragement from moms in the trenches of every season of motherhood, enter to win our grand prize {20 books + a $400 VISA giftcard} and plan to attend our Facebook party on May 12 at 8pm CST {details to come}.
post contains affiliate links
The post Celebrate the Mom YOU Are appeared first on Grace for Moms.