Today is Mother's Day and I couldn't be happier. It's a gorgeous day and we are in Baltimore - my husband has a conference and we are tagging along. I'm sitting outside right now by the harbor typing this on my iPhone while the baby sleeps and hubby is in a seminar. We had a lovely breakfast and lunch together, the three of us, and he'll meet us here for an early dinner. Like I said, I couldn't be happier.
Motherhood is amazing. It's been three months and yes, it is challenging and tiring an stressful and repetitive and frustrating but, and maybe my memory is already blurring things into a rosy haze, but it has never felt hard. I know it is hard for some so I am endlessly grateful that it hasn't felt hard for us yet, also knowing that could change at any time as well. But it hasn't felt hard, mostly because we have a great baby who is easy to take care of, but also because I have a great husband, abundant family support, super supportive and helpful friends, both parents and non-parents, the means to buy the things we need and the extras that make things easier, the luxury of being able to take extra time off, a fantastic, kid-friendly, stroller accessible neighborhood, a wonderful group of other new mom's that I've been lucky enough to meet... the list is endless. I understand the "it takes a village" cliché a lot better now.
Mothers are amazing (fathers are too, but they get their own day). When I look around at the new moms I've been meeting I think how each one is struggling and triumphing in their own ways, all to give the best to their little bundle of joy. Most of us had mothers who did the same.
So Happy Mother's Day to mothers everywhere, past, present and future, and to all those who mother and who make mothering possible.