What Does it Mean to be a Mother?

Mother's day is fast approaching. My thoughts are drawn to the mothers for whom this will be their first holiday spent without their child. Maybe they passed away, due to illness. Or they've moved away, to start a life on their own in a new city.

And my heart is drawn to the mothers who are facing Mother's Day without their own mother. The sense of profound closure and loneliness that haunts them.

Being a mom. What does it mean? I've been a mom since I was sixteen. For eight years I've been a part of this special group of people called mothers.

I remember when I was sixteen and found out I was pregnant thinking to myself, "I can't be someone's mom!" Even back then I understood the gravity of the situation that many people do not. Being a mother to a child is so much more than just giving birth to them and putting food in their mouths.

Being a mother is...

MAKE YOUR OWN LATTE AT HOME

 

Lattes are one of my favorite ways to enjoy coffee. Something about them is soothing and makes me feel fancy!
Here is an easy recipe that will give you a delicious latte at home that you can impress your friends with!

If God Answered My Prayer

I've been a Christian since I was a little girl. I grew up in a Pentecostal church, "backslid" like any good church kid does, and then honestly chose to follow Jesus at the age of sixteen.

My early twenties brought me a lot of grief, questions, pain, mixed emotions. I began to open my eyes to the world as it truly was and not just to the world I saw while I was inside the walls of my church. I began to question what I had believed for so long. I, like many if not all Christians, began to doubt.

To My Friend Who "Can't Wait to Have Kids"

Dear friend,

I love how excited you are about wanting to have kids. I know that seeing my angelic being of a child is enough to make you think that upon having your first kid you will be in for sunshine, rainbows, and a lifetime of happiness. But believe me when I tell you, that once you have your first child, your life is going to change. Forever.

Right now you are living in a land long forgotten to many moms. A land of independence and freedom that you will NEVER again get to experience post-baby. Your heart may feel somewhat of a deep connection with your hubby, depending on the day. But you are about to enter dangerous territory. I'm talking metaphorically cutting your heart out and letting it grow and live outside of your body.

"The Girl That Could Fly" : A Poem About Loving Yourself

This has been a year of self discovery for me. Year 25 of my little sweet life. I've faced some demons that have been lurking for years and years. I've realized things about myself that I disliked and also things that I've loved. The most monumental shift in my thinking over this year has been the change in my thoughts about myself. For a long time I felt like I didn't measure up. Like I wasn't good enough. I was constantly trying, struggling. In a lot of pain. But then I realized that, for all of my flaws, and my work that still needs to be done, I'm alright. I kind of actually love myself. And I'm pretty sure that's okay. Here is a poem I wrote about all of that. Just wanted to share it and hope that it can motivate you too!

"Give Me Back My Gushers!" How To Teach Your Kids To Be Generous

I have a parenting fear. Well, if I had to be honest, parenting is one of my greatest fears, if you haven't already picked that up. It's scary to think that I, (beautiful, crazy, unstable I) should have the responsibility of building a tiny human. I guess that is true for all of us though. No one completely has their lives together and we are all works in progress. Under construction, if you will.

Guilty Mom Sneaking

This morning, I come to you guilty.

Do you see that little face up there? That scowling, adorable face? I took this picture down in Miami at a restaurant called Catch of the Day. This is the look I get a lot when I want his picture.

As I was saying, that scowling face and child calls me mom. I am his whole world. With the exception of the pieces he hasn't given to his daddy, sports and Minecraft. Anyone who knows anything about me knows how much I love my son. And this morning,
I snuck away from him.

The Art of Parenting

Have you ever seen a piece of mosaic art? They usually are colored and can be made of stone, glass, pottery or other materials. What they all have in common is that they are made up of many tiny pieces that combine to make a beautiful whole.


In many ways the mosaic is a metaphor for our lives. Many different individuals combine to make up families, neighborhoods, communities, nations and ultimately, our Earth.

Pick Up Your Mat And Walk

My morning started out like any other. I woke up and tip toed to the coffee pot downstairs, making careful effort not to wake up my sleeping husband or son and thereby limit my amount of peaceful quiet time for personal reflection. I really love my mornings with my books, coffee, and journal. Most days the second I hit the on button on my machine, I hear two feet hit the floor, followed by seeing the precious face of my little boy, but today, I had a few minutes alone. Knowing I needed to get back in touch with my spirit, I have been reading through the book of John. First I took a few minutes to journal a lot of the feelings and anxieties I was already having at seven in the morning. The list was short but full of strife. I have too many options of what to worry about these days. I let the feelings flow and in about fifteen minutes I had listed my chief complaints with this life and felt like my soul was a little lighter.