Mom Moments

You Are Not Alone!

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“A friend loves at all times” Proverbs 17:17

It’s been almost a year now that I have been home with my son. I can honestly say that I spent the first ten and a half months of this year trying to defend my decision, purpose and place as a stay at home mom. There were times when I felt like people in my life did not understand my decision so I withdrew and sometimes isolated myself from everyone but my immediate family. At some point I found myself drowning in life because I was keeping so much inside and trying to figure out this new place in my life all on my own. I was like a suitcase that was clearly overflowing, but yet I was still trying to stuff more into it rather than pulling some things out and dealing with them. But, thank God for a friend who saw me in ten feet of water and threw out a life line!

The reality of it is that some people will not understand your reality until it becomes theirs. When I was single I “thought” I knew what it was to be a wife and said what I would and would not do and then I became a wife. When I didn’t have children I judged others on their parenting skills because I “thought” I knew it all. After all I was a Licensed Masters Social Worker and had a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development…… and then I became a mother. Were some of my “thoughts” valid? Yes. Were some of them wrong? Heck YES! This is simply because some lessons in life can’t be taught; they are learned as you experience them.

The good news is that you are NEVER alone. No matter how much we try to convince ourselves that we are the only one experiencing something, there is always someone who can relate. A lot of times we just don’t know this because we don’t reach out. After that friend threw out the life line, I realized as a stay at home mom she experienced some of the same struggles, thoughts, doubts, etc as I did. Then I begin to open up more to another one of my stay at home mom friends and she experienced some of the same things as well. Here I was thinking, “poor little me, no one understands me” and all the while God had some amazing women right in my face. Grant it, their situation may not have been completely the same, but the concepts and principles were the same.

If you think there is no one, pray and ask God to send you “a friend who will love at all times.” After all, “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17). We need someone to walk this road with us that can “sharpen” us and help as grow as a woman, a mother and friend.

Have a blessed day and remember to find the “jolly” in every “moment” life brings your way!

~ Keishawna

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Count Your Blessings!

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“Someone is praying for the blessings you take for granted.”

When I came across this quote on Pinterest I was speechless. I thought of how many times today I complained that I had to chase my 11 month old son out of the bathroom and pull toilet paper out of his mouth. I thought about how many times I complained that I didn’t have time to work on my wedding and event planning business because my son was a busy bee and all over the place. I thought about how many times I complained that my son pulled my freshly folded laundry off the table, or pulled my undergarments out of my top drawer, or tried to pull my brand new lamps off the end tables. Then I read this quote and suddenly my complaints felt superficial.

Here I was complaining about what my son was doing when several women I love long to have a son to complain about. So instead of focusing on all he’s doing wrong, and I really can’t say doing wrong because he is simply being a child and exploring his world, I instead will focus on that fact that I have him. God blessed me with a beautiful son and from this day forth I purpose to not take that blessing for granted. So who cares how many times I have to refold the laundry, pick up my undergarments, or restock toilet paper! I’m a mother and that in itself is a blessing!

So to you mothers out there who may be stressed out or tired because your child is not conforming to your schedule, count your blessings. Your child is a blessing. It doesn’t mean that the days you want to pull your hair out behind your child are not valid. Your feelings on those days are valid. All I’m simply saying is, somewhere, some woman is praying that she had a child that made her want to pull her hair out.

Be encouraged and remember that “The joy of the Lord is your strength” and He can get you through any trial or rough day. After all, He counted you worthy enough to go through the trial by the mere fact he blessed you with your child. So on a rough day, remember “Someone is praying for the blessings you take for granted.”

Have a blessed day and remember to find the “jolly” in every “moment” life brings your way on today!

~ Keishawna

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Image Credit: Image found on Pinterest.

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Mistakeless Moments!

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“Remember there are no mistakes, only lessons. Love yourself, trust your choices, and everything is possible.” Cherie Carter-Scott

Years ago while an undergraduate at the University of Texas in Austin, I heard the quote “In life there are no mistakes only lessons.” Until today I never knew who said it, nor had I read the entire quote. Now that I have read the entire quote, I love it even more. This quote has always gotten me over a hump.

As a career woman I was successful and respected. Leaving a situation where I was respected to stay at home with my son was a difficult decision. As a career woman I “thought” I knew what it meant to be a stay at home mom. Honestly, I didn’t understand when I would hear my friends who stayed at home say, “I didn’t have time to do this” or “I didn’t have time to do that.” What do you mean you didn’t have time, for goodness sakes you stay at home, how hard could it be?? Now that I am on the other side of that statement, I know staying at home is not an easy job and is in fact a job!

There are some people in my life who see me staying at home as the easy way out, so for a second I wondered if I made a “mistake.” Then I was reminded of this quote and realized my decision was not a mistake, but an opportunity. An opportunity to be involved in my son’s life the way my mother was never able to be involved in mine because she had to work. I saw his first steps, heard his first words, and was there for his first fall. In the future, I will be there on the first day of school, join him on field trips, be involved in PTA, be a classroom mom, at the bus stop when he’s dropped off, and so on.

Does staying at home make me “better” than a working mom? Does staying at home make me “less” than a working mom? I say “no” to both questions. It doesn’t make me better than or less than, it makes me different.

As the quote says, I will trust my choice and embrace the lessons I learn on this journey. I want to encourage you moms who are at home with your children wondering if you made the right decision to TRUST your choice. Don’t wonder if it was a mistake. Embrace this opportunity for as long as you can and enjoy this “Jolly MOMent!”

Have a blessed day and remember to find the “jolly” in every “moment” life brings your way!

~ Keishawna

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