mother's day

I love my mom, all my grandmas, my mother-in-law, my godmother and all the mothers in my life. I look up to and admire my friends that are mothers. I am thankful for all of them and all the women in my life. But, this day is so. hard.

Amid the celebrations of all things maternal, I'm forced to have skin so much thicker than I ever imagined I would (i am kind of a wimp). Scrolling through Instagram is like punch after punch in the gut. The day is a reminder of something that comes so easy to others and is (seemingly) impossible for us. 

To add a little more sting to this day, if our last medicated cycle had gone as planned, we would have tested today - positive or negative - wouldn't that have been a great way to celebrate the day? A positive! Now, don't get me wrong, I am thrilled that my doctors don't move ahead with procedures unless the circumstances are just right on, but, still. 

All this 'woe is me' is not my style. I want to honor all moms:

moms with little ones,

those who have lost their moms,

those who long to be mothers,

soon-to-be moms

and those who are mothers despite the absence of children (aka dogs moms :)). 

Cheers to the moms out there. All moms. Moms in every shape and form. Have a glass of wine, kick up your feet, this day's for you and you've earned it.

mothers day

Mothers Day was tough. I didn't think it was going to be.. at all! I woke up and checked my twitter and facebook - like I do every morning - and it was like Mothers Day threw up all over my social media. And I cried.

We went to Home Depot to pick up some flowers. And I cried.

We came home and got ready for brunch. And I cried... Are you getting the theme here?

After brunch I took a long, amazing nap and woke up to a text from my bffffff, Em. There was a post on FB that she wanted to check out. I think it's so thoughtful and powerful that I just want to read it every day:

To those who gave birth this year to their first child - we celebrate with you

To those who lost a child this year - we mourn with you

To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains - we appreciate  you

To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions or running away - we mourn with you

To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears and disappointment - we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don't mean to make this harder than it is

To those who are foster moms, mentor moms or spiritual moms - we need you

To those who have warm and close relationships with your children - we celebrate with you

To those who have disappointment, heart ache and distance with your children - we sit with you

To those who lost their mothers this year - we grieve with you

To those who experience abuse at the hands of your own mother - we acknowledge your experience

To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood - we are better for having your in our midst

To those who have aborted children - we remember them and you on this day

To those who are single and long to be married and mothering your own children - we mourn that live has not turned out the way you longed for it to be

To those who step-parent - we walk with you on these complex paths

To those who envisioned lavishing love of grandchildren yet that dream is not to be, we grieve with you

To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year - we grieve and rejoice with you

To those who placed children up for adoption - we commend you for your selflessness and remember how you hold that child in your heart

And to this who are pregnant with new live, both expected and surprising - we anticipate with you

This Mothers Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.

No matter how hard Mother's Day was for me, there are real amazing women - Mothers and non - who are truly amazing. I am so lucky to have each and every one of them in my life.

Enough of the mushy stuff. Happy Monday, y'all.

xo - Amanda