Mothers Day

It’s interesting. As I lay in bed next to the pack n play on our families yearly Tennessee trip (that always starts on Mother’s Day), I can’t help but reflect about what this day means now that I am a foster mother. As I lay in bed at 6:50am scrolling through Facebook I come across this “Motherhood challenge”. Now please do not get me wrong, I am so envious and happy for those who are able to post pictures of their pregnancy, the day they first became a mother and a picture of the child now. That is so cool! But my journey to motherhood wasn’t that simple and could change at a moment’s notice. It makes me question do I really have a right to celebrate this day as a mother? 

Foster moms get the short end of the stick. They get a call for a child and must react. They quickly find child care if they are working full time and within 24 hours of placement are back to work. They learn to live life on 3 hours of sleep, work 40 hours and raise children who are not their own.  No maternity leave, no pregnancy photo, no cute this is how I became a mother. We became mothers by applying to be a parent, attending 36 hours of classes, becoming CPR/first aid certified, going through a grueling process of a social worker getting all up in our business and then waiting for a phone call.  The call happens. Now what do you do? Well, you put your big kid panties on and make it work. You juggle child care, visits with bio mom and how to transport them when it is in the middle of the work day.  You somehow find time to cook dinner because take out all the time just is not going to cut it anymore. You handle the all the challenges of behaviors by parenting a child who has been through more trauma in their short life then most adults in his world. Time with friends begins to decrease significantly, going to a bar even for happy hour becomes too much of a hassle, things that used to be important and a priority like going to concerts and keeping up to date with TV shows become nonexistent when a child enters your home and heart. Isn’t that what makes a mother? Sacrifice?

To answer my initial question, I do deserve to celebrate this day and you do too. Motherhood is about sacrifice, and no sacrifice is too small for the children in your life. Whether you are a biological mother, adopted mother, foster mother, aunt, sister or just a woman of influence to children in your life, you are an inspiration. No, I can’t post a pregnancy picture because that is not how our family was created. I am also not able to say with certainty that my little family of 3 is going to be us forever.  But today I celebrate my first Mother’s Day. I am a mother and I am proud to be a foster mother and give the children in my home the love they deserve and need however long they need it.  Whether it's lifelong or until they move to their next chapter in life, they are home. 

Above is my 3 picture journey to motherhood 😊