The Struggle is Real with Motherhood But We Survive

No one understood my challenges regarding being a mom as much as my grandmother who passed away May 2015.  This woman who had raised four boys and a girl with little money and a cheating spouse did the best she could with a limited education.  She cooked, cleaned, and did other practical things to obtain an income.  As her granddaughter, I was very empathetic of her lifelong struggle and tried my best when in her presence not to give her grief.

Now that I am older, I realize the value of those connections one makes with a mother who has been through far more than you.  Sure, we have our moments where we feel good about being mothers, but we also have those times when we "feel down in the pits," as Grandma described her state of mind one day.  It helps to get around people who can relate to what you may be going through while providing you with a bit of wisdom.

Whatever you do, don't close yourself off to the world.  So many mothers do that once children are born.  They act as if there is no one or nothing but spouse and/or children that complete them and that is just not true!  Children grow up and move on with their lives if they have been raised by functional parents.  Husbands and wives have been known to divorce one another.  You are more than just a mom, you are a woman with a heartbeat, a soul, emotions, etc.  Take care of you!

Grandma reminded me often to check in with how I feel and to look in the mirror and say, "I love you, Nicky."  She didn't mind telling you what you looked like when you were in her presence.  If she felt you were abandoning self by letting one's appearance decline, she told you so.  "Don't let that man ruin you...Don't let those children run you ragged!"  Her eyes meant business and she had every right to scold us, moms, because that's just what we were doing at times.

So if you are that mom who is down in the dumps and just feel plain bad, muster up all the strength in you to snap back.  Life is too short to let others bring you down.

Be encouraged this day!

All the best and many blessings to you,

Nicholl, Blog Manager and Owner