May 4, 2021

A Whole New Appreciation for Moms

Mother’s Day is a great time to celebrate mom with a simple “I love you” and show your appreciation for all the love, support and encouragement she has given you over the years. But let’s be real…Moms want (need) to hear this all year round; and I think that while a simple “I love you” or a hug can be all we need at times; it can easily be overlooked. And in typical mom fashion, we usually won’t put ourselves first and say something. So, I’m here to tell you to give your mom an extra big hug today (and everyday); whether it’s through FaceTime, Zoom or if you’re lucky enough to do it in person, then that’s even better. She will so appreciate it!

Everyday Superheroes

Moms are like everyday superheroes. Seriously. Since I’ve become a mom, a little over three years ago, I’ve gained a whole new appreciation for my mom; and all moms out there. And I say this with every ounce of truth and respect.

What we do, day in and day out, all that goes unseen, that doesn’t get shared on Instagram or Facebook, the stories of things that happen, but go untold (like that time when my son got his head stuck in a chair in the playroom and I literally had to use my instinctual mom super strength to bend a wooden chair with my two bare hands just enough so that he could squeeze his head out of there!….yeah, that was fun, said no one ever…) – these are the things that make us the great moms that we are deep down inside; that internal strength and grit to just power through and get things done especially when no one is looking. No one other than YOU will understand all that you do. So, I’m here to say that I see you and you are doing an amazing job raising those kids (whether their babies, toddlers, young kids, teens or young adults+)!

Some Days

And don’t get me wrong, there are definitely days when I just don’t have my sh*t together (I think most of us can relate…).  Especially lately, it seems like I just can’t get all the stars to align for some reason. You know when you feel like things are just not in balance, and something’s off. Whether it’s work, kids, or life in general, it just makes things that much harder when we’re not 100%. And when mom doesn’t have everything together, things just seem to really get out of whack. Am I right?

And no disrespect to all the dads out there. The crazy part is that even with my loving husband (I love you, Matt!) who does everything 50/50 with me, it’s still tough. And for all you single moms out there, give yourselves some grace and be kind to yourselves. I’m not sure how you do it! But keep on keeping on. You get extra superhero points.

Self-Care

Sometimes it’s important to just acknowledge that things can be tough. Give yourself grace. Be kind to yourself. And recognize that you are doing the best you can in that very moment. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

Over the past year or so, I’ve realized the importance of self-care, especially amidst this COVID-19 pandemic. I’ve always exercised, ate a well-balanced diet, took time to take care of myself whether that meant getting my nails done or getting a massage, etc… but over recent years, I’ve let things slip a bit. And I’ve noticed the changes in my physical, mental and emotional health because of it.

There are no excuses. I just let it happen.  One might say that it’s because life is just busier now that I’ve become a working mom managing two kids and a full-time job, etc. But guess what? None of that is going to change; this is the life I’ve been blessed with and I’m so fortunate for that. Instead, I have to adapt and overcome in order to become the best version of myself, not only for me, but for my family. And that’s exactly what I am doing. Here and now. When I take care of me…. The stars begin to align and it feels sooo good.

My Mom

I’ve learned a lot from my mother over the years. Looking back, I can kick myself for all the stress and hard times I caused her, especially through my teenage years. With that said, I know that my daughter will raise hell for me too, so I’ll have to just roll with it – what goes around, comes around, right?

My mom raised me to be a strong, confident women. She always allowed me to challenge the status quo, go after my goals, be confident, and never give up. Most importantly, she taught me to respect others. But on the flip side… she’d say, if someone “hits you”, then you “hit them back” – both figuratively and literally. Ha! I always loved that about my mom. She’s a tough cookie. People treated her with respect because she earned it from them. She taught mathematics to high school kids in an inner city. She had grit. She was tough. And her students knew it and respected her for it.

My mom always has my back no matter what; and for that, I am so grateful. I love you mom. Thanks for all the sacrifices you made for Serg, Nick and myself over the years. Hope we make you proud!

This post is dedicated to you mom. Happy Mother’s Day, I love you! Xoxo Liz

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