True to the dichotomy of motherhood I’ve never wanted to pause and skip to the next stage so much at the same time before.

Today, 365 days postpartum from my 3rd baby, I feel like I’m almost at the same place I was 6 years ago – the very first time I became a mom.

With each year, each stage of motherhood, brings a whole new level of challenges that offer opportunities for growth. 

This past year I often found myself stuck – and still do – in harder to pull out spaces/mindsets. As the screams for “mama” get louder, more pronounced and with added voices it becomes so routine to ignore my own needs.

I’m constantly having to fight her, the mother in me, to think about me, the woman in me. 

My kids aren’t in grave danger, they’re not starving and our home isn’t a rat infested hole that needs my undivided attention. Yet I’m often overlooked, my emotional needs and dreams often sacrificed.

Throughout many conversations with mothers of previous generations- this is the norm. 

“The kids are still too young”, “your family is still growing” words and phrases said to moms (me) as the rationale.

But what if we asked moms for they want? What if we genuinely concerned ourselves for their well being as women and not just the role they’re fulfilling or the stage of motherhood they’re in?

Maybe instead of fighting to be seen or drowning in guilt to feel valued we would spend more time progressing forward for ourselves and ultimately our families.