The Struggle is the Blessing

Motherhood is a beast.

One definition of beast is defined as being cruel, vicious, nasty, or vile. 

Yes, motherhood is a beast.

Another defines being a beast as extremely strong, skilled, or dominant in an activity.

Yes, us mothers are beasts.

Whether you’ve just began or are almost finished in your motherhood journey, I believe that is what you are. A beast.

An instructional manual is one thing you don’t receive leaving the hospital with your bundle of joy and relying on instincts only takes you so far.

I’ve never been through something that has tested every ounce of me in emotional, spiritual, and physical ways and somehow come out in one piece on the other side. Perhaps even a little bit stronger and a little bit wiser. And I’ve still got a lifetime to go.

But let’s be honest, no one has it figured out. Most just take it one day at a time because that’s all that can be swallowed without choking. Little bites.

Motherhood although beautiful is a struggle. A daily struggle. Am I teaching them enough about school, about God, about life? Am I feeding them the right things? Am I giving them enough love, attention, and time? Am I being a good role model, instilling the right values? Am I being a good mother?

These thoughts plague me often. When they do I try to remember a quote I clung to hard at the beginning of my journey and still do...

Do what you can until you know better, then when you know better, do better.

I’ve found that motherhood is made up of phases. Phases where you are crushing it, phases where you’ve thought you’ve blown it, phases where you don’t think you can go another day like this, phases where the smile just won’t leave your face. All the phases are part of the struggle and yet the struggle is the blessing. He can turn the hard, tough, and unbearable into good. 

Often with just one precious moment.

The sleepless nights fade away when that baby gives you her first smile.

The endless crying drifts into the background with one deep belly laugh.

The eye rolls disappear with just one heart to heart conversation between mother and daughter.

The back talk changes it’s tune to a sweet I love you just before they depart.

The struggle brings about the blessing. Which is exactly how I think it is supposed to be. 

A taste of the sweetness of what’s to come.

Happy Mother’s Day 🌸

With love,

Tori