you're the reason I'm still up at dawn

I’m in both a career and a life stage where I am surrounded by moms.  I serve as a Pastor to Youth, Kids and their families.  And all my friends are having babies… okay not all my friends, but a lot of them.  So while I don’t have kids of my own, I recognize the struggles that come along with being a mama to little ones.  I see them in the eyes of my friends, of the women I do ministry with, of random women I see at the grocery store and at Target.
So today’s prompt for the #FridayFive over at Mrs. Disciple hits me right in the heart.  My version of this prompt will be things I want all my young mom friends to know.  Five things from me to you, things I want to know in your heart of hearts.  Think of it as a little love letter from me to you.

#FridayFive: Five statements to my Mama to Littles friends

I see you.

I know it’s easy to get lost in the fray of small children.  I’ve seen it time and time again when we’re out.  People address your kids more than you.  OR WORSE – they critique your parenting choices from a 10 second observation in the aisle of a store.  You are a beautiful mama and yes your kids are SUPER cute and that’s why people coo over them, but you are amazing too.  You are their mama – those cuties are your cuties.  So I want you to know that I see you – doing your best, keeping your kids fed, clean and happy.  I see all the hard work that goes into it, even when it feels like no one sees you.

Your child’s crying doesn’t bother me

I don’t know when it became socially unacceptable for kids to cry.  They have very little control over their little bodies and their big emotions.  To mamas I don’t know in the stores – I wish you didn’t need to feel the need to apologize for your child’s crying.  You can’t control it and chances are that they can’t either.  I know you’re doing all that you can, sometimes kids cry and it’s okay.  You just do you and I promise I’m not judging.

I’m sorry when I say stupid things

I know they’re going to come out.  No matter my experience with kids or my own nieces, chances are I’m going to say something that I don’t mean.  It may come out as judgmental or like I’m telling you what to do.  Or I may accidentally be braggy about sleeping in until 9 a.m. on a Saturday.  I don’t have kids – I don’t fully understand.  I know that, you know that – but I’m human and I’m going to slip up sometimes.  I’m also sorry for all the times other people have said mean things or given you advice that makes you feel like a bad mom.  You’re not a bad mom.  They don’t have your kids or your situation.  You need to do what’s right for your family, so you do you.  Always remember Amy Poehler says we’re allowed to say, “Good for you, not for me.”

I’m so proud of you

I seriously have some of the greatest mama friends.  I see them fighting for, loving, protecting, playing with, comforting their kids every day.  They’ve each seen struggles in their journeys and they have triumphed in amazing ways.  They get up every morning and do what needs to be done for their kids.  I’ll never get over how cool it is that they get to be moms to some of the most amazing kiddos I know.  How great they each were created to be exactly what those kids need.  God has shown up in amazing ways in their lives and I’m so proud that I get to call them my friends.

Thank you for letting me be a part of your kids lives.

I don’t say this enough – but thank you.  Your kids are a delight to know.  I know it is an honor to be able to be a part of their lives.  To be an extra Auntie, to be their Pastor, to be a Miss Alicia, to be a presence in their lives.  You’ve trusted me with one (or more) of your most precious possessions and I am honored.  I love knowing your kids.  That first time they say my name, the first time they choose to come to me to tell me about their day, those days they ask if I can come to lunch with you, the sadness when they finally learn to say all the letters in my name – I treasure it all.  I will never get sick of hearing their stories, of reading the same books over and over again, of pushing them on a swing, of retelling them all my bee stories.
To all my mama friends – I love you all.  You’re doing great and I’m on your side.