Recently I had to introduce myself to someone other than another mom, or three year old. Really this something that we do every day isn't it? But on this occasion I felt completely out of place and not to mention completely ordinary. So when someone asked me what do you do? I replied I am just a mom. How many kids do you have they asked? Two, A boy and a girl. They smiled politely and then excused themselves to "continue to mingle". I fully admit, my vanity was temporarily scuffed. For the rest of the night in the back of my mind. I kept thinking of how I could change up my introduction of myself, because it was not even worth sticking around to learn more about. And if I am honest it could also be that I am really rusty at adult introductions. But the more I thought and the more I practiced, the more I thought: What is wrong with JUST being a mom? When did that title loose its respect and awe and wonder? Can't we just be mom now? Do we have to juggle "side" job and kids and run for city counsel? If in fact do have a side job and run for city counsel, GO MOMMA! This isn't a post about which is better, a stay at mom or working mom, because both have the title mom. It is the MOM title which I felt lost the awe. To put it more correctly I let my mom title lose its AWE. When did it happen? I don't know if I can pin down any date or event that, I can say,"that is when it happened." I think over time most of us get lost in the every day motherhood acts that we become lost. That we sometimes need these side jobs and positions because we don't see the title MOM as impacting as our other titles. We lost what MOM means. What does the title of mom mean? Dishwasher, cook, shuttle driver? No, those are the many things she does, that is NOT who she is. I teach my kids to work, learn and share but I am not solely a teacher. So what is mom? To me the title of mom means: in the pursuit of unselfish love. It is a lifetime pursuit or journey. That I feel will outlast any other title that we could list under our names. Think about it. Next time you introduce yourself as: someone in pursuit of unselfish love. There is no hiding behind anything. The awe is back. The day to day struggles, stress and joy are all apart of this journey. You have purpose and though you might lose sight of it again and again. You today have awe of the journey that you are on.
You understand. You will fail and succeed. You will cry and want to run away. You will pray that certain days will pass quickly and that others will hold out just a moment longer. You are mom. This incredible human that gets to battle everything else wanting her attention and learn to focus on what matters most to others. And on the way we just might find that it matter most to us as well. That in pursuit we became something more. Now I am not suggesting that you give up those things that give you joy and only do what others want or need. But I am suggesting that we learn to find joy in our pursuit of unselfish love. You can paint beautiful canvas murals and travel the plains of Africa. You can sell make up online, build up a business from the ground or quietly read a book. All while you little by little piece together a heart that is working on unselfish love joyously.
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Hello, I'm LindseyA wife to hubby pursing higher education, a mother to three energetic kids, obsessed with all things farmhouse vintage and believer that food always taste better when it is shared. Categories
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