Motherhood can be likened to bringing home macaroons from your breakfast meeting in your kids favorite colors- sounds perfect right? Until they run out of the house at first sight of the car in the driveway. And apparently, when one grabs your knees and the other dips the box, they eventually fall on the porch. Now you know. Sometimes your best intentions are met with the reality of life with kids.
While I learned my lesson after that day, I haven’t stopped bringing them little gifts. You learn, you grow, you change. No two seasons of life are the same, is that bad? No, it just demands for flexibility and letting go of always being in control. When I accept the spilled milk, the tattling, the interruption, the macaroons on the porch and compare them in light of the rewards of motherhood – a higher calling Gods entrusted to me and a humbling for my growth, it changes my attitude. I start to be thankful for those four lives God gave me. It’s not glamorous or easy. Its a daily choice I make everyday. After all, attitude is like a good photo editing filter. It can take a somewhat mundane scene from drab to crisp and beautiful. Happy Mother’s Day to mothers, daughters, and mothers to be. What are some of your favorite memories of your mom? I’d love to hear.
there’s no was to be a perfect mother, but a million ways to be a good one – jill churchill
dress ZARA SIMILAR / sandals REBECCA MINKOFF
13 comments
Shalice Im grateful for your heart and example… Love ya and se you soon!
Pam – thanks for reading – Can’t wait to catch up in LA!
I totally agree with you. The moment I became a mother, I realized I had no control. Vincent–who just turned 14 years old this Saturday (Gasp!! When did that happen!?), was taken to the ICU after he was born. His breathing was off. He was born at noon, and by 8 pm, I was like where’s my son! I hobbled down to see him after my C-section. I left the hospital before he did. When a second complication came along, I was like, I need an English speaking doctor now to tell me what is going on! (Both my kids were born in Venezuela.) Anyway, after five days, he was finally brought home on Mother’s Day–my first one!! But, like you said, I realized I had and would never have control of him. All I can do is nurture, love, guide, influence, and try my best at making sure he’s a good person. Right? We can only control our own actions. First lesson of motherhood–at least for me.
I love your fam Shalice! And I totally relate with your philosphy. Here’s to momming!!
Love, Ann
Ann- That would’ve freaked me out! So glad he’s ok today. I can’t get over how international you guys are! Venezuela and Hong Kong?! And amen to that: nurture, love, guide, and influence is all we can do, and let them fly! Thanks for reading.
HUGS!!
Yep, I’m definitely what you would call an expat: 6 posts (international schools) in 19 years actually! Started in El Salvador (2), Saudi Arabia (2), Venezuela (3 and where the kids were born), India (5–loved it there!), Beijing (3–hardest post with that icky air!), and now Hong Kong (going on 4). We’ll be here in Hong Kong for a bit since Vincent (14 and going into 9th next year) and Gigi (12 and going into 7th next year) will want to stay and go to high school here at Hong Kong International School. My kids are definitely third culture kids. American parents, born in Ven, never really lived in the US but totally look American. Mixed for sure!! Luckily each summer we have a home base at our lake cabin on Spirit Lake in Idaho. It’s super close to where I grew up (Spokane, Wa) and my husband’s folks from Seattle can also visit easily with a five hour drive.
Do you have any other readers that you know of from overseas?
I’m glad to be one of your faithful readers Shalice Noel. 😀 A x
Yes – I’m sure there are overseas readers. My mom was born in (the Kowloon side) of Hong Kong and have loved every time we have visited. I’m sure your kids are very well rounded and flexible considering all your moves. Your lake cabin sounds dreamy! XX
Your dress is the cutest!! And happy (belated) Mother’s Day!! 🙂
http://www.magggiealamode.com
Thanks Maggie – hope you had a lovely weekend 🙂
Happy belated Mothers Day your family is so cute many blessing :):):)
Gladys – yes – they are definitely a gift – and teach me a TON. Thanks for reading!
You’re a great mom! I can’t even image busy and chaotic your day must be like! But you keep it happy and fun girl, and I see it in your pictures.
Thanks friend! I think I can thank Reid for that, lol. We definitely get the best pictures when we’re just plain having fun 🙂
Finding the right fitting car seat is so important to protecting loved ones! We are expecting a child soon and we want to make sure that we have the right seats to be able to take her (or him) where ever we need to go. I was unaware that children up to 7 needed these types of seats, but the know you know the better! At least we found this out now.