It's always the Monday after Daylight Saving time that smacks you in the face. When babies try to wake up at an unholy hour and toddlers spend the entire morning crying for no apparent reason. The house is that kind of mess that only happens after a weekend, the kind that might take the first 3 days of this week to hike over.
It takes a fair amount of courage. I think about it in the shower, after a late start. My toddler keeps trying to yank the curtain back while I try to hold it closed with one hand and attempt to rinse shampoo out of my hair at the same time. Then again when the coffee maker I forgot was dying seems to fade even faster while I balance a crying baby on one hip and silently pray that I can get just one cup before it's gone for good. When my 10 year old reminds me a school project is due tomorrow and no, he hasn't started it. Or the 6 and 4 year olds come to blows over pinata candy from yesterday and the sun's not even up yet.
It takes courage not to get bogged down in all that. Courage to fight through the emotions and fantasies of what you sometimes wish life looked like and live the life you have - not just skating by, but lived well. Some days, it's hard to know what that would even look like. It takes courage to find out.
Sometimes it's courageous to stand your ground when the preteen moans that everyone has social media and it's not fair that he doesn't. Sometimes it's courageous to be soft and gentle and sweet to the child who really doesn't deserve it. For me, the most courageous times are when I can acknowledge that, while how I parent does matter, it may not be the make-or-break thing that I think it is.
You may think that if you build yourself up, claim your own confidence, approach each and every day with a can-do attitude - that there, there you'll find the courage you need to make it through. But if your confidence is in yourself, it's one human flaw away from washing away completely. Building a life on the foundation of your own merits is doomed to fail from the start.
Being courageous is to launch yourself into the battle that is your life, into the unknown with just one hope, one promise to hold onto: that God is at the helm of your life, He is faithful to see His work completed, and He is with you, always. Through every dark night. Through every (painfully early) morning. Through every long day. When you slip up, which you will, He steadies you. When you blow it, He picks up the pieces. When you get a little off course and can't find the way back, He lights the way. Day after day after day.
You find courage when you soldier on, knowing wherever the day leads you, the battle has already been won.
{It's Mindful Mothering Mondays, a day to take a deep breath and write out your mothering journey, whatever form it takes. A day to link up for encouragement from others who are in this same phase of life. A day of writing out the trials and triumphs and what you're learning right where you are, right now.
You might post recent struggles or thoughts. Maybe just a picture or a quote. Or maybe you'll just come here and read the links that others post. Whatever form your participation takes, this is a day for you.
We are all in this, together. Together, we can encourage and build one another up, be honest with our shortcomings and strengthened by community to keep fighting the good fight.
I chose Mondays because what Mama doesn't need a little encouragement on a Monday? As such, I'll have the link up ready to go on Sunday night for you to begin submitting your links.
I hope you'll meet with me each Monday! Here's what to do ~
Link up your post below. Remember to put the link to the exact post you want to link, and not just your blog url. Include in your post a link back here so others who want to join in can find us! And visit some other Mamas who have linked up.
Post the community graphic within your post, so people who are reading your Mindful Mothering post can come back here and find the rest of us!
Invite the writers of your favorite blogs to join in!
Share this meme with others on facebook and twitter. This community is for all moms, and the more that participate, the more we will be able to enjoy!!}
Grab the graphic here:
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