Grateful: Day 21, Motherhood

I have 3 daughters. One is in high school, one is in third grade and the other is in diapers.

Sometimes I want to hide from them, but there is no where I can go. They follow me into the bathroom and tell me things. They ask me questions I’m unprepared to answer, they interrupt my sleep and borrow my shoes. Even when I am away from them, they are still with me, on my mind and in my heart.

I make them meals and style their hair and listen to the things they aren’t even saying. When they are troubled, so am I.

My 8-year-old has been extremely moody for a couple of weeks now. It’s been frustrating because I KNOW something is going on, but when I ask her what’s wrong she’d say, “I’m fine.”

Who does she think she’s fooling?

I knew better, and so does she.

Eventually, my tactics prevailed and she finally spilled all of the beans this evening before going to bed.

She talked for nearly an hour. I’m here for it.

By the end she gave me a big ole hug and said, “I’m glad I have a mommy I can talk to.”

So am I.

Motherhood is emotionally and physically draining, but equally rewarding. I’m just blessed to have the opportunity to help them to the best of my ability. I love solving problems and challenging them to think. My prayer is always that I end up helping them to succeed in their own lives and be a little better, faster and stronger than I’ve been. I’m grateful for a chance to be such a powerful force in their lives and for having them in mine.

To read this series on Gratitude from the beginning, click here.