Let's face it, being a mama is literally THE hardest job on the planet! Not only are we responsible for raising up our children to be good, well-rounded, decent human beings, but we also take on so much of the responsibility in our homes. I don't know if it is just because God made us this way. To be caretakers. Or if society has put so much pressure on us to "be" a certain way and "do" all the things, so we now have wired our brains to believe it. Either way, I have found it so true in my own life, especially in the busyness of life with little ones, feeling completely inadequate for the job.

As a woman who really likes to have it all together, motherhood threw me for a loop. I wish someone had told me how hard this was going to be. I wish someone in my early years as a mother had taken the time to share with me some of their motherhood struggles. Motherhood can feel so isolating sometimes, which is why I created this space and have always had it on my heart to just be open, honest and vulnerable about the hard stuff. I think it is our duty as mothers in each stage to help those who are behind us in the journey. To build them up with encouragement, but also to share that their season is hard and it is okay to feel overwhelmed. We too have been there! Coming from someone who still is in the trenches with an 8, 6 and 4 year old (so I can't speak to the older ages yet), but I can encourage those who are new mommies or who have kiddos that are younger than mine. I feel it is part of my calling.

All this to say, if you are feeling inadequate or ill equipped for the job as a mother, let me encourage you in letting you in on a little secret. We ALL feel this way. I can't tell you how many mamas I have talked to over the years who have shared this same feeling. We all learn as we go and unfortunately no matter how many books or blogs or resources you read, you are never truly prepared for your specific child(ren). I have read my fair share of parenting books and blogs over the years and let me tell you, there has never been just one that has had all the answers. 

No one told me just how hard motherhood would be. That loving this extension of my heart would bring me to the brink of mental insanity almost daily, as well as show me flaws within myself that I never truly knew were there. To be completely vulnerable, please no judgement, I never knew I was an angry person until I had children. There is just something about the long days, endless messes and big attitudes coming out of little humans that get on my last nerve. I have worked really hard on this the past few years (still a work in progress of course) of not letting my anger or frustration get the better of me. To learn to breathe through the hard moments and try to teach my children patience through my own actions. I still have moments, almost daily, where I throw my own little mommy tantrums, but I try really hard to always come back to my kids, apologize if I have been too harsh and show them that it is okay to feel big emotions, yet we don't want to let those emotions get the better of us. That we ALL are learning how to handle them (even mommy). My prayer is that by example they will learn to feel more confident in their flaws and mistakes than I ever have.

Let me free you from the chains of having to live in secrecy of how hard motherhood is. I want to encourage you to persevere through the hard times and give yourself so much grace as you walk through this season of life. No one of us in perfect, but God perfectly created you and placed those little ones in your care, because HE is the one who can equip us. I have to remind myself of this truth DAILY. Every morning I pray that God will give me the strength, wisdom, patience and an overabundance of love for the day ahead. That He would fill me up so that I can be a light to my children and family, as well as to all of those around me. That is my prayer for you today too, mama. That you would feel God's overwhelming peace and presence in your home today. That you would feel encouraged to run the race set before you. Don't give up. Don't let Satan's lies of insecurities and inadequacies creep in and steal the joy that can be found in this season of life.

You are strong, beautiful, and you were made for such a time as this. God is holding you close and He is waiting to wash His love and grace and peace over your heart, if you would just ask Him. You are so loved and I am praying for you today. That you would find courage and hope knowing that you are not alone. Motherhood is tough! But so are you!