Children are like little extensions of our souls, aren’t they?
I was thinking that this morning while driving home from the dog park.
That’s how I feel about my beautiful daughter Samantha. She is such a gift. And she has taught me so much about making the most of not just today but every single moment.
And to think that some day we will have loved her so much that she will be able to stand solidly on her own two feet in the world…just thrills me so much. In fact, she’s not doing such a bad job today.
I feel really proud of her. And I am not a perfect mother by any means. Thank goodness perfection is not a requirement of motherhood.
There was a time in my life when I felt like I was waiting for my “real life” to begin.
It was a period of waiting. Followed by waiting. And more waiting.
Around the age of 28, I woke up. And started to realize who I am. I think it was the beginning of the realization that I am allowed to just be who I truly am.
The awareness that who I am is enough.
If I could give one gift to my daughter and all girls, women, mothers, and grandmothers, it would be the awareness that whoever you are is enough.
Right at this moment, without therapy or plastic surgery or a makeover or whatever seems like it might help.
I may have inadvertently stumbled upon the key to contentment, because if I am enough than it doesn’t matter that my home is untidy. It doesn’t matter that I am tired and a bit hormonal right at the moment. It doesn’t matter that the world is a really imperfect place or that my husband is busy with his play or that all the members of our extended family lives thousands of miles away. It doesn’t even matter that I can’t keep up with all my girl friends.
In short, it doesn’t matter that I am living a big, fat, messy life. The fact that I accept it and can accept myself without the need for striving today means I feel blessed and rich and right with the world.
Today’s imperfection is more perfect than any of my wildest fantasies.
This Mother’s Day I hope you discover the freedom of imperfection. And I hope relishing it makes you giddy with joy.
Amen.
Happy mother’s day!