Mother’s Day is quickly approaching and it is a time of year I enjoy reflecting on my motherhood journey as well as appreciating other moms.
My fellow moms know as well as I do how much hard work, selflessness, patience, and most importantly love it takes to raise our kids. It is not always a glamorous job, but it’s filled with so much love.
Before becoming a mom I thought I knew how to love deeply. I thought I knew what it meant to be selfless. I thought I was a hard worker. I thought I could easily balance everything.
Now that I am a mom, I know I was wrong. I didn’t know how deep I could love until my two babies and their dad looked me in the eyes for the first time after I gave birth. The love in my husband’s eyes after I gave birth was almost more than I could handle. And my babies stole my heart and soul from their first breath.
I didn’t know selflessness until I gave up eating dairy and soy so that I could safely breastfeed my babies. They both had dairy protein allergies as babies, and my daughter was allergic to soy too. I quickly learned how to cook all our favorite meals dairy- and soy-free, usually from scratch, in order to continue our breastfeeding relationship that I cherished. Because dairy and/or soy ingredients are found in most prepared food, we didn’t eat out much for most of both of my babies’ first year of life.
I didn’t know hard work until I was caring for my two young kids, managing the household, my job, and starting this blog. I initially attempted to continue working as an engineer (part-time, from home), while also taking on the role of a stay-at-home mom, and it was almost an impossible task.
I thought I could balance work and family, until I couldn’t – and I chose to stay at home with my kids. As someone who always planned to continue working after I had kids, this was a difficult decision, but one I know I will never regret.
I have faced challenges with motherhood, but also been given the greatest reward with two amazing children. Being a stay-at-home mom is hugely rewarding and the funnest job I’ve ever had. I love being mom to my two sweet children and every single day I think about how grateful I am to be their mom.
I am fortunate enough to have both an amazing mom and mother-in-law. My mother-in-law, who was a math teacher, loves math as much as I do. She is the nicest person I know and also one of the best cooks too!
She has the kindest heart and raised three kids (including the amazing man who is now my husband) and is the best Mia to seven grandkids. I am so proud to be her daughter-in-law and grateful for our easy-going relationship.
I know I can count on her and my father-in-law to always lend a hand whether we’re moving houses, throwing a party, or need a babysitter. They are always there for us without fail. I will aspire to be that same reliable and supportive presence for my kids one day.
My mom is a huge inspiration to me and always has been. She is the most hardworking, selfless, and loving person I know. She is a caring and adoring mom to three kids and Grandma to four grandkids.
My mom encouraged me to love STEM and become the engineer I am today. She has always been the first person I turn to when I need advice, someone to cheer me up, someone to calm me down, or someone to talk to.
I love and value our close relationship and even though I don’t live close to her, I know she and my dad are always just a phone call away.
I can only hope my own children will see me with the same adoration I have for my mom one day. She is simply the best and I’m so glad and lucky she’s my mom!
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms reading this! You are all braver, stronger, smarter, more caring and beautiful than you know! Keep up the amazing work Mamas!
