Being a mom is hard. And rewarding. And confusing. And fulfilling. And lonely. And the best thing I have ever done. I am grateful for the opportunity to have six wonderful and loving children. Each one is unique and amazing and I am blessed to have them call me “Mom.”
We Just passed the one year anniversary of adoption (May 20, 2024) and life is challenging and rewarding, frustrating and beautiful, exciting and messy, and, honestly, terrifying. There is trauma history and triggers, ADHD, C-PTSD, anxiety, depression, behavior disorders, epilepsy, and autism.
So yes, I am overwhelmed, exhausted beyond measure, unable to relax, and usually stretched far too thin. I am only one person and am rarely able to give each one of my children the time and attention they deserve. I remain committed to being and doing the best I can for them all. I am focused on loving them, finding joy in the chaos, and celebrating the diversity of my family, while I fight for the support and services they desperately need.
I have heard more often than I want to admit, that I took on too much, I should have spent more time before making the decision to adopt three kids by myself. What they see as frazzled, non-stop movement, my inability to sit down or be still is actually love amid chaos, being attentive to the emotions of my children, my desire to offer and create a safe and welcoming home, focus on being a loving family, learning to understand who my children are and making sure that I am meeting them where they are with what they need.
My children show me how much they appreciate me, how thankful they are that I am their mother, and how excited they are about our future together as a family. Not a day goes by that I'm not thanked for what I do, in big and small ways. But whatever the future holds, I am here for it and am completely committed to my children. I don't know everything I need to know about autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, or the myriad other challenges they face, and probably never will. But damn am I thankful for the opportunity to learn and watch them grow and succeed.
So, yes. Being a mom is hard. And rewarding. And confusing. And fulfilling. And lonely. And the best thing I have ever done.
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