Today's topic is courage.
All last week I knew the topic would be courage and I felt so much pressure to think of something to write about that fell under the topic of courage. I even asked Sarah from Momalom if I could link up an older post because recently my five year old son, Charley, showed amazing courage when he stuck up for his two year old brother, Henry, against pirates at the park.
Then today as we celebrated Mother's Day I realized that being a mom takes courage.
For many people becoming a mother just happens without a thought out decision to when the time is right. For me, it was a decision that my husband and I excitedly decided on together. Whether you decide or are surprised - becoming a mother takes a lot of courage. It is an experience that continues to challenge from day to day and moment to moment.
I surround myself with many amazing friends and family who are mothers. I have an inspiring mom as a role model. My mother-in-law raised a son who is a wonderful father to my children - I soak up her wisdom. All of these mothers do things differently but yet the same. They have strengths and weaknesses that they work on or celebrate. They have passions that play out and enhance their mothering skills. Each mother drives me to take time during my journey to enjoy and grow. Each of these women show courage as they make the day to day, moment to moment decisions that impact the lives of their children.
As a mother you have to have courage to believe in your instincts, trust your heart, slow down and take each moment and decide on what is going to work for this moment in time. As mothers I think we tend to question and feel guilty for even the decisions that we are sure of.
The courage to be confident in the decisions you make as a mother is vital to surviving and not laying awake at night, isolating yourself, or having life pass you by.
I strive to find the courage to believe in my daily mothering choices. I try to always tell myself that from moment to moment some things work or won't work and I can change my mind. The amazing thing about parenting is that there is no one way to raise wonderful children.
Find your courage.
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30 comments:
You are so very right! It does take courage... an amazing amount. The confidence thing is the hardest, isn't it? But so important :)
i like that you tell us to find our courage.
because there is something comforting in the fact about it already being there waiting for us.great post.
I'll be a new mom in August and I'm searching for that courage now. I've had a few of those moments where realizing that the hospital is going to let us take her home terrifies me!
What a wonderful post in joint honor of Mother's Day and Five for Ten! :)
I agree totally: becoming a mother is the most courageous thing I've ever done. From the day I found out I was pregnant with my older son, my life and my perspective on it shifted in a myriad of ways - big and small.
One part of your post especially struck me: as parents, we need the courage to trust ourselves. Even though I do still turn to parenting books, friends, and the Internet for advice, I have been honing the courage to follow my gut.
Great post! Thanks!
I have a friend who say her super power is growing humans. Being a mother - the nurturing through nine long months, the letting go when necessary while still always being there - is tough stuff.
So great to find you as part of Five for Ten, and what a lovely post to read. I nodded emphatically as I read it, particularly this part: I strive to find the courage to believe in my daily mothering choices. I have a tendency to question myself, so to look at it more like finding courage, well that's a perspective that I really like!
Looking forward to reading more.
We do need to find the courage to trust ourselves. That is so very true and stopped me in my tracks. I struggle to trust myself when it comes to parenting. I overthink everything... ask so many questions of others to confirm that what I'm doing is right. And I STILL have a hard time trusting...
Being a mom is scary. Every day scary. And although I hadn't thought of it the way you've stated it... you are so right. It takes courage.
Great post and welcome to Five For Ten!
It is nearly impossible to truly trust ourselves in the world in which it seems everything you read and hear is telling you what you are doing wrong. Believing in yourself IS courageous and difficult, but OH so worth it in the end!!
Glad I found you thru 5 for 10~
Beautiful and touching post! Your psots often make me THINK.
I love this Sarah! Beautiful post. :)
Parenting requires such courage. And a good solid dose of confidence, the ability to trust one's self. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on courage during Five for Ten.
Motherhood is a common thread in many of these posts on Courage. And I am realizing just how strong I am. You're right - following our hearts and our instincts takes a lot of courage but we have to do what we believe is right. Great post!
Thanks for your comment on my blog - it's great to meet you! I'm looking forward to checking out some of your other posts!
Yes, being a mother is so courageous, isn't it?! Thank you for the reminder.
I love the way you end your post! I'm working on finding my courage right now. :)
This is a great way to look at it. Motherhood does take courage, but it also takes a willingness to make mistakes and figure out what's best for you.
It is about daily decisions we make as a mother. We make them, hoping that five, ten, twenty years from now, our guidance has given them proper tools to make their own best decisions. I love the way you ended your post.
Please to make your acquaintance.
Hi! I'm here via Momalom and thrilled to have found you.
This line speaks to me: "I strive to find the courage to believe in my daily mothering choices." Mothering, unlike any other job, is never a done deal. Every choice that we make will have an effect and I sometimes choose hoping there won't be muc hdamage caused. And thank goodness, my son who's only 3 seems to easily find it in his heart to show his love for me, unpromted.
"...courage to believe in your instincts..."
I've struggled with this again and again. I never would have guessed how hard it would be to stand for my convictions when something so precious rode on my decisions.
Great post.
Hi - I'm over here from Momalom. So nice to "meet you".
It seems like you're surrounded by wonderful, positive people who influence your motherhood. That is what is sorely missing in my life and I wish I were closer to home. I'm so glad for your kids that they are surrounded by the support and love that you are blessed with. Enjoy every moment!
I wrote a post about just this very thing. It takes so much courage to trust in yourself and to trust yourself to raise children. Moms are some of the bravest people that I know.
The courage to trust my instincts is so key to my confidence as a mother. I have found over these past seven years, that I am often quite strong in the MOMENT, but looking back (even to five minutes ago) can find me second-guessing myself to no avail. It is exhausting, to be sure, but I find the courage to go on. We all do. We find courage in the smallest moments, in the words of a loved one, or in the words of these wonderful women online. This blogging community is a gift I never even imagined I could have received.
AMEN! Great post! I ask God to give me courage and strength everyday, just to get through it. Raising four boys can be a scary thing!!! Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!!! btw - I love the other post about your boys and the pirates! Brotherly love!!!
Love this post and the link with 5 for 10 and Mother's Day!
Courage as a mom is a gift that we are always second guessing! Thanks for reminding us to find that courage in the every day!
Thanks for reminding us that we all have courage -- just by being moms.
Being a parent does take courage. Being a mom helps us uncover courage we never knew was within us. nice post.
Mothering is one giant leap of faith, isn't it? And I don't think it gets any easier, does it? I always wonder WHEN I'm going to stop second-guessing myself...
Yes, being a mother requires courage every day. And, your last line? Perfect.
AMEN. Every aspect of motherhood requires courage - and I cannot believe that it took writing my Momalom post to really realize it.
"Find your courage."
I love this simple trio of words because they highlight an important reality. Courage is not a given. Sometimes, we must look hard and dig deep to find it.
And, yes, motherhood takes an immense amount of courage. Constant courage.
Great post.
Amen, sister. No right way, no single way, no perfect way to raise happy, healthy children. Just us, all stumbling along with hope and faith that it'll work out.
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