Strong Moms:  May We Be Them!

In my journey as a mother, I have grown from a place of frailty to a place of strength thanks to the support of mentors and friends. Here are reflections on lessons learned that all parents can benefit from.

As a mom, I never really knew how strong I was until being strong was the only option I had. And surprisingly, strength prevailed. Who knew I had it in me? Not I!

As I reflect back on my journey from frailty to strength, I realize it didn’t happen overnight. It took time. It took personal growth. It took connecting with others.

I will be forever indebted to those who mentored me. And to those I call “friend.” I cherish our relationships and commonalities. I simply can’t imagine where I would be without them. They taught me and encouraged me when I forgot…

There is no time for guilt. My friends remind me that I did the best I could until I knew better. And once I knew better, I did better.

There is strength in numbers. While relationships take time, they are often the glue that keeps me from falling apart and breaking.

Advocacy is a natural part of parenting a child with or without a disability. And self-pity is defeating. The sooner I embraced the role of advocate, the better equipped I was to face each day and each challenge – to find a solution.

Self-care is important, not selfish. I’ve learned to take time to relax, refresh and renew. I am a better wife, mom, daughter, and friend because I take time for myself.

Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. This is something I am still working on. Asking for help doesn’t come naturally for me, but I am getting better at it.

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Stay focused on the things that matter most. We need all the strength we have on those difficult days.

Never lose hope. Take a moment to breathe and never give up. Persistence is the key to success.

Finding strength may take time, but it is attainable for all! What attribute would you add or share with another mom?

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