Momma,
My wish for you.
I hope you are truly taking the time to celebrate this day, and I mean, in whatever way is the most fulfilling and nourishing to your well-being. Whether that be, taking a break, practicing yoga, reading a book, spending time with the kids, taking a nap, going for a walk… whatever it might be to nourish you. Because we don’t do that often enough. We don’t set aside one whole day to value and appreciate all that we do, each and every day of the year. So let today be that day, without guilt. Let today be your day to embrace all that you love about being a mother, and be kind to yourself when you think about all of the things that are difficult about being a mother. Remind yourself that you are doing your best, and given the uncertain times, I am sure you’re working overtime to keep everything together. Mother’s Day may look very different this year, but it is a day you deserve to truly be appreciated for all that you do. Because momma, this is the hardest job on earth, and you are doing an absolutely amazing job!
I also want to dedicate this post to all of the women who have raised us. Because, man, don’t you appreciate them more now that you know what it was like? I sure do. We may be missing them or wishing we could show our love and appreciation like we usually do right now, but soon it will come and there are so many ways that we can show that love.
To those that we miss on Mother’s day, to those who are grieving. Sending all of the thoughts and positive emotions your way. Today can feel heavy, so it is important that we focus as much as we can on the positive experiences and emotions that we associate with those we have lost, and embrace the beautiful mothers that they were.
To my soon-to-be mommas, it is a wonderful place to be. That beautiful phase of excitement and joy of the upcoming arrival of this little being. It can also be marked with so many other feelings and emotions. I know now more than ever the uncertainty can be difficult. So please, be kind to yourself. Nourish yourself, allow your body to take breaks, and enjoy that excitement as much as you can today.
To the women who wish to be mommas. I understand the weight that today brings. The wave of emotions, thoughts and feelings that may have never been present before, but this day may be a reminder. I am simply here for you, feel for you and send love to you.
It is hard when a day that is supposed to celebrate mommas and recognize them for all that they do, can also bring sadness, heaviness and difficult emotions. I encourage you to feel them, to allow them to come in, to acknowledge and thank them. When you do so, couple that with a small act of kindness and compassion towards yourself. Access your village and support.
Which brings me to my next thought. This community. On this day last year, I launched Momma’s Healthy Hub with a goal of providing a little platform and community. To gather women together who were looking for some kind of network. Meanwhile, I discovered it really was me trying to find that network. Trying to find my place in this new role as a mother. That transition was not as difficult as I had thought, but I also did things, like launch a blog to talk about that experience, as a way to ease myself into that new normal. This platform has evolved greatly from last year when we first launched, and sometimes I lose site of the original intent and that is something I continue to think about and consider as I move into this next year. I want to ensure that I am staying on point with what my goals are for this platform, while also evolving with myself as a mother. I am learning and growing each day, and I want this blog to reflect that but also be a source of support and a resource in some way. With all that being said, I hope you’re joining me on this journey and I always love to hear feedback. Which leads me to my next point.
The merch. What a wild ride! From Jillian Harris posting, to Tori and all of the amazing responses I received. I couldn’t have asked for a cooler experience with that launch! However, I do recognize that it did take away from some of my initial intent of this platform, which is definitely going to be a part of how I process this next shift with the website. I love the merch, I enjoy making it and sharing it with mommas and friends, because it truly brings me joy. I hope it brings those who wear it joy, which was my original intent for this venture. So for now, I will continue on here, and try to find ways to balance both content and product, which, being a one-woman show with a toddler, full time job and a pandemic, is a difficult task. As I am sure you can all relate.
If you’re still with me, thank you, I feel like this is a bit of a ramble. As I close here I just want to thank you all for your support in this launch, and all of the launches since. It has been a great learning experience for me and I am truly grateful for my tribe. It has helped me realize more about myself and really reflect on motherhood from a different perspective.
Being a mother has changed me immensely. It has challenged me in new ways I never thought were possible. Just when I think I have got it figured out, I get hit with a curveball. It has been emotional, beautiful, wonderful, difficult, exhausting, & amazing, all at the very same time. Figure that one out. I have grown to appreciate my mother, and every momma in my life, in ways I never thought possible. It truly humbled me and opened my eyes to all of the things that I had taken for granted before and all of the things I will appreciate going forward. It took away some ignorance that I am glad to never have back. I genuinely feel that I have grown as a person, all because of my little person, and seeing the world through her eyes.
I say some of these things with a heavy heart. My love goes out to those mommas we miss right now, those mommas who are grieving a loss right now, and those women who wish to be mommas right now. Because I know today is a day of celebration and appreciation, but it also carries that heaviness with it.
I send all of the love to you.
Do something for yourself today, one little thing at least, that brings you simple joy. Be kind and compassionate towards yourself. Remind yourself how amazing you are. And do your best to enjoy today to its fullest, because you definitely deserve it.
Take care Momma,
Lisha
xo
This beautiful photo was taken by the talented Scarlet O’Neill
