Motherhood Is Hard, Mother’s Day Shouldn’t Be

Today, we welcome Elaine Griffin from The Laine List . I met her in Chicago during BlogHer13 when we were in a fashion show together. A little later in our friendship I found out that she was getting a divorce, and didn’t quite know what to say. I’m happy that she is joining us today to give us perspective, and to let us know that taking a day out for yourself shouldn’t be hard. 

Motherhood is hard.

It’s the most tiresome, thankless, rewarding job I could have ever wished for.

I received the greatest mother’s day gift just a few days prior to mother’s day 2006. My son Ben was born, and made me a mother. Four years later, just after mother’s day, my little Genevieve arrived.

I couldn’t have asked for greater gifts.

But it’s been easy to forget over the years.

Motherhood is hard.

It makes us tired and unable to see the gifts in the every day. When your kid goes to school mad because he doesn’t want to go to school, and then gets off the school bus and runs into the house to throw his arms around you. When your little girl has given you nothing but grief all day, but in a tender bedtime moment she tells you she will love you forever, no matter what.

You don’t notice these little gifts because you are focusing on all you do wrong.

It’s hard to stop and just be in the moment. To show gratitude for those small, beautiful moments. To recognize the emotional rewards.  Especially when around this time of year, we are bombarded with messages that our rewards should be tangible items or treats. It’s easy to believe we deserve partners and children that shower us with diamonds, spa treatments, wine, chocolate, ALONE TIME! I’m not saying we don’t deserve these things, but are they really that soul satisfying?

This year I got divorced. So this is the first year I’m going to be “alone” to plan mother’s day. I KNOW I will not be showered with purchased gifts.

And it’s a relief. So I’m just going to gift myself the space to enjoy my children. To laugh and play. To cook a nice meal together. To not worry about the laundry, the dishes, the schedule.

This year I’m looking forward to just being in the moment and enjoy all the little gifts. My two greatest gifts.

Motherhood is hard. But not on this mother’s day.