How Motherhood Changed my Mother’s Day Perspective

Motherhood has completely changed my Mother’s Day perspective through every challenging and exhilarating moment. Each year has added to the fullness of the beauty of mothering as much as to its challenges.

Instead of expecting gifts, I try to celebrate BEING a mother on Mother’s Day.

Card company expectations are the enemy of joy, while macaroni necklaces, dandelions, and Crayola cards are priceless.

I’ve learned to celebrate the messy work of being a mother.

As my daughter becomes increasingly independent, my role is shifting from primarily physical needs to more emotional and spiritual guidance, which is teaching me so many new aspects of motherhood.

Nothing taught me to appreciate my mother more than motherhood itself. #ThanksMom Click To Tweet

My Mother’s Day perspective is also gratefulness for my mother.

Being a mother has taught me to appreciate my mother more with every challenging stage in my daughter’s life.

Previously, I had focused on experiencing Mother’s Day. After waiting so heartbreakingly long to be a mother, I desperately wanted to finally belong in the Mom Club. But as those first Mother’s Days came and went, I realized I was missing something waiting to be celebrated.

Yet now, as I inscribe my mom’s Mother’s Day cards each year, I am always struck by how much I still need to thank her for the million thankless jobs of motherhood. The list seems to grow every year.

Thank you, Mom for reading me a thousand books (some a thousand times) even when you were tired or needed to cook dinner. I remember knowing you loved me as we took adventures with escaped giraffes and flying detectives. I developed a love for stories and words and discovery on your lap. A love I am passing on to my daughter as well.

Thank you, Mom for getting up before we did everyday and making breakfast. We probably complained about cold cereal one day only to pitch a tiny rebellion the next over oatmeal or scrambled eggs.

I’m sorry about the Grape Nuts episode. To be fair, I still think it’s gross. 😉

Thank you, Mom for the hours you put into keeping house without many of the modern conveniences I take for granted.

Your housework was never finished, never perfect, and you kept on doing it. Now, you even sometimes come do it at my house.

As I look around the chaos in my living room today, I wonder how you kept everything so spotless despite our efforts to the contrary.

Thank you for all the secret tears you must have shed in frustration when we wouldn’t stop arguing, broke your favorite vase, or decorated the house in baby powder.

I can only imagine the tears you cried when we screamed I hate you in our teen angst. Or the prayers you prayed over our relationships with each other and our walk with God.

Thank you for the years of sleep you gave up in the raising of three young women, nights you were up until you couldn’t see straight, nights you couldn’t sleep until hearing the front door close, three minutes past curfew.

I may not have understood the sacrifices, but I couldn't miss the love. Thank you, Mom. Click To Tweet

Mom, thank you for Bible stories and morning devotions. Thank you for all the rides to swimming lessons and play practices. I appreciate all the clothes and formal dresses you quietly stitched in your non-existent free time.

Thank you for the million ways you invested in my life, putting aside yourself to develop character in me.

You didn’t get it all right, but neither will I.

And I see now, how beautiful messy is just part of the package of life and motherhood. God gave imperfect me to imperfect you and asked us to love each other.

While I may not have understood all your rules or sacrifices at the time, I couldn’t miss the love.

And I can only hope my daughter will someday be able to say the same about me.

I could spend every Mother’s Day waiting for gifts and breakfast in bed . . . and miss the gifts I already have.

Which is why I needed to shift my Mother’s Day perspective!

Being a mom is the gift of Mother’s Day. It’s the snuggles after breakfast. It’s navigating anxious emotions and math facts. The gift is even learning to find joy in the laundry, dishes, the work of motherhood.

God has used motherhood to change my perspective on my relationship with Him. Seeing our imperfect version of unconditional love, I’ve realized how BIG God’s grace is.

Motherhood has changed how I love people. I better see how we all struggle to find our way, to be good at things, to get it right. And how easy falling short is. Yet, we love and are loved in return.

I never saw motherhood for what it truly was until I was in the trenches of it, slogging through the spilt milk and potty accidents, friendship crises and skinned knees to see how much it matters to BE someone’s mom.

I pray I’ll leave a legacy of love like you gave me.