Power of Moms - Motherhood Realized: An Inspiring Anthology for the Hardest Job Youll Ever Love

Acknowledgments

A book like this obviously doesnt create itself, and we are so grateful to those who contributed their time, talents, and energy to make it happen.

First, we want each of our Power of Moms authors to know how much we appreciate them sharing their words of wisdom with our community. We feel strengthened each day as we read encouraging words from those who know our lives, and we are thrilled to have their thoughts and stories compiled into this book.

We also offer a huge thanks to the members of our Power of Moms Editing Team, including Alisha Gale, Rachel Nielson, Sarah Monson, and Amanda Lewis, who did an incredible job compiling these posts, getting them book-ready, and working with each of our authors. They devoted hours to this projectall for the purpose of helping other moms.

An additional thanks to Aven Rose, our main editor with Familius Publishing, who so carefully went through the entire manuscript and provided fantastic feedback to shape this book into the finished product it is today, as well as David Miles, who designed the beautiful cover.

We are also grateful to Christopher and Michele RobbinsFounders of Familius Publishingfor the work they do to strengthen families through the publication of excellent books. Working with them has been a pleasure, and we are glad to add our name to their list of authors.

And Power of Moms wouldnt be anything without our community members who visit the site and actually implement these ideas into their own families. We feel privileged to associate with you and cant wait to meet you online.

Introduction

Is motherhood what you thought it would be? In many ways, maybe it is. But if youre like us, youve probably experienced a bit of a shock at some point (or at many points) during your experience as a mom.

We believe that family life is beautiful and that motherhood is a privilege, but we also believe it is often really hard to see all that beauty when were in the midst of mothering.

Its common for us, as mothers, to feel like were spread too thin. We often feel like we dont match up. Our hearts want to do more than our hands can manage. And every day, as we cycle through household duties, discipline, errands, conversations, teaching, and hundreds of unexpecteds, were often left tired, worried, and in need of some extra inspiration and encouragement.

In this book, we will real -ize motherhood by talking about the very real parts of it. You know those moments where you shake your head and think, What on earth have I gotten myself into? But throughout that process, were also going to help each other realize motherhood by coming to better understand why this unmatched, powerful experiencewhich is often so great and sometimes so hardmeans the world to us.

Power of Moms is an online community of deliberate mothers. Were often asked what we mean by deliberate mother, so, in a nutshell, we believe that deliberate mothers are intentional about the way they live, the way they care for their families, and the way they grow themselves, as women.

Since 2007, millions of deliberate mothers have gathered at powerofmoms.com and connected through social media, email, videos, podcasts, and in-person Learning Circles and Retreats to learn and grow together.

Time and again, well read comments on the essays we post that say something like, I am going to print this out and put it on my nightstand so I can read it again and again.

Weve been concerned about those nightstands getting all cluttered up with paper. So weve selected dozens of our most popular posts and compiled them neatly into this bookjust for you.

This is the kind of book you can enjoy in three minute sips or devour section by section when youve got more time. In its pages, youll hear the voices of real mothers who know your life. You can highlight what speaks to you most, loan it to a friend, and then keep it handy on a bookshelf (or on an electronic device, if youre reading it digitally). Then whenever you start to wonder if youre going to make it through this motherhood journey, you can open it up and remember that yes , you can do this.

We have grouped the essays in this book into four categories that speak to every mother:

Becoming Our Best Selves

Getting Through Hard Times

Shifting Our Perspectives

Savoring the Moments

But please remember that this book isnt just a book. Its a tangible representation of a living, breathing community of mothers. Join us at powerofmoms.com to share your stories, communicate directly with the authors of this book, read fresh daily content, participate in our online programs, or sign up to attend a live Retreat.

Motherhood is the hardest job well ever love, and its so much better when were doing it together. Were here to learn from each other, comfort each otherand remind one another that, although our lives as women include a wide variety of interests and responsibilities, there is nothing more important than this crazy and beautiful profession of motherhood.

Chapter 1

Becoming Our Best Selves

Watching You

Catherine Arveseth

I ts true. Ive been watching you.

Not in the creepy, lock-your-doors kind of way. But in the unspoken, wonder-and-admire kind of way.

Ive watched you in my neighborhood, on morning runs, and as you kissed your kindergartner goodbye on the first day of school. Ive watched you shuffle your family into church, swing your toddlers at the park, and carry two children safely through a mountainside of poison ivy. Ive seen you juggle cereal boxes while talking on your cell-phone and pushing three kids through the grocery store. Ive exchanged emails with you, read your blogs, and gone to dollar movies with you. Ive gazed longingly as you pressed your newborn baby against your chestsleepy legs danglingyour warm hand cradling his head.

Yes, Ive been watching. And honestly, Im amazed. You are remarkable. You are wonderful. You are mothers.

Each of you is unique. You have different time constraints, workloads, challenges, and passions. You vary in seasons of motherhood. Some of you are married. Some of you (whom I salute with utmost reverence) are doing it alone. Many of you work outside the home. All of you work inside the home. But Ive noticed one thing is true for each of you: you are the right mother for your children. You were the right one when they were born. And youll be the right one when they are grown.

A couple weeks ago, I thought I would lose my mind for all the chaos in our house. The crying, the global disaster on the premises, the little ears that seemed to go missing. (Do they just fall off sometimes? Because no one was hearing a word I had to say!)

After accidentally putting cinnamon instead of paprika into the breading for our chicken, cutting a fruit snack out of my hair with scissors, and having my daughter tell me, Momif you dont start being nice, Im going to pack you up and put a sign out that says Mom for Sale, I was ready to cash in the apron, turn in my mommy badge, and call it a day. Maybe a year. I found myself muttering aloud, Am I really cut out for this?

And then I remembered you.

The day you stopped by unexpectedly to say hello. I watched how you interacted with your autistic son. While we talked in the driveway he began to cry. You knew exactly what he needed and you were patient. He wanted a Band-Aid. I asked if I could get him one. Do you mind? you asked. Its his fifth one today. But it would help. I delivered the Band-Aid and all was well.