Mama Strong
On Mother's Day, we set aside time to recognize moms and the unique and invaluable impact they have on their families and on the world. As I reflect on this time of recognition, I find myself squirming a bit. I know my job as a mom is important. I know it's hard. I know it is joyous and demanding and sometimes thankless and beautiful and gut-wrenching and rewarding and rip-your-heart-out-painful and, and, and. It's just what we do, right? Is Mother's Day really necessary? Lord knows we aren't in it for the glory or you would have lost me at potty-training. But, yes, I do believe it is so very necessary. In a culture that often devalues the roles of the feminine, it is so vital to have a day set aside to honor one of the most crucial roles on the planet - that of Mother.
There is enormous value in husbands and fathers and sons and daughters and the collective family taking a beat to say "thank you" to mothers; to name and acknowledge the foundational support mothers lend to their nuclear homes, which contributes to the foundation that holds us all up on a larger scale. Mothers, in addition to the thankless tasks and the grind of the everyday, fight tirelessly for and ultimately make possible the dreams of their beloveds. This gift is one that can never be measured.
Michael Jordan said, “My mother is my root, my foundation. She planted the seed that I base my life on."
In addition to it being so important for others to recognize mothers, it is also vital that mothers allow for this recognition. I find myself falling into, "it's just my job" and scoffing at the notion that I need praise or recognition. This attitude, though, ultimately robs me of the joy of experiencing my worth. As girls, we are taught by society to be giving and loving and self-sacrificing, but without self-worth, that well will ultimately run dry. Standing tall and owning the sacrifice, as well as the privilege of motherhood better equips us to keep on keepin' on. We have to allow our tanks to be filled, our cups to overflow. As a dear friend recently reminded me, we have to give ourselves a little credit. We certainly hold our share of the burden. So this Mother's Day, Four Girls wishes you a day of love, peace, family and a day where you give yourself the credit you so richly deserve. Here's to many more days of the same.
standing mama strong,
melissa
To purchase your new favorite t-shirt and join the mission, click here.