Being a mother is more than just cute clothes and warm baths. It’s about sacrificing your life to another human being, learning to shape your existence around theirs, and making decisions that will benefit your child’s future.
It took awhile for this to resonate inside my mind and spirit. I was in my early twenties when I gave birth to my son, and most of my friends were out and about experiencing college life. My days would start and end with making bottles and changing diapers. And I really didn’t know how to ask for help.
Sometimes, as new mothers, we are filled with pride and joy in having our babies; it feels we have finally arrived in adulthood, and life has come full circle. To some extent, this is true. And yet, while the triumphs are rewarding, parenting comes with major challenges. That’s why there is such enormous benefit in having a strong community to lean on, support you, and guide you through those first years of motherhood.
Although my village was present, they were not very active in nurturing me through those first years. And so, the biggest lesson I learned as a new mother was to nurture and speak up for myself when necessary.
As mothers, we don’t want to fail or feel like we are being judged by those we look up too. And yet, the most important thing you can do as a mother is to know when to ask and give help.
No matter what kind of community or support system you have, the love and confidence needs to come from within you.
I am stronger today because I found the love I desperately wanted to give my son inside me. Learning to love and appreciate the space you are within as a mother is imperative to your growth.
Being a mother comes with many duties, hats, and roles. Sometimes you will be stretched so thin your head will spin. One moment you will think you have it all together; until one thread comes undone, and you lose yourself in the chaos.
As women, we have to learn to love from the inside out. Because the love we seek to give our children begins with us.
Summary of Parts I and III: In part one of this article, Minolta shares the momentous feeling of becoming a mother for the first time, and in part three, she talks about the importance of loving yourself.
