On Stretching – Cheri {What the Baby Books Don’t Tell You}

Okay, maybe not.  Frankly, I wouldn’t get caught dead in all spandex.  My name is Cheri and I blog at I Am Momma Hear Me Roar.

When Jeannett asked me to talk about what the baby books don’t tell you there was one word that came to my mind.  STRETCH.  (Hence, the Elastigirl.)

Becoming a mother has stretched me in more ways than I ever could have imagined.  No one could have explained it to me beforehand.  I’ve become deeper and stronger and hopefully more patient through this journey.  Sometimes it’s been through laughter and sometimes through tears.  But ALL of it has stretched me immensely.  Here’s how:

I don’t want to sugar coat anything here.  While motherhood is the most awesome thing I’ve ever done, it’s also the hardest thing I’ve ever done.  I have to remind myself how important my job is, because it can be easy to forget.  Between the runny noses, tantrums, self doubt, worries, and diapers it can get overwhelming.  This part can be painful stretching.  I often read myself this quote as a reminder.  I love it.

“Women rock a sobbing child without wondering if today’s world is passing them by, because they know they hold tomorrow tightly in their arms.  When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire – or the shaping sounds of lullabies?  Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in Congresses?”  – Neal A. Maxwell

I have two boys and sometimes when I feel overcome, I think about the men they will be someday.  I think about the things they might do and I remember that I get to be the one who teaches them.  I think that’s a pretty amazing privilege.

2) Supersizing My Abilities.

There are some things I didn’t know I could do until I became a mom.  For example, a few days ago my youngest threw up ALL OVER the car.  It came out of nowhere.  There’s that wretched smell that comes with it. (Sorry, to paint the details but you know how it is.)  I only had 2 wet wipes in my possession and no napkins.  Somehow, I pulled over, calmed him down, stripped him down, cleaned it all up, and calmly headed home humming a tune.  Bam!  What’s next?  Bring it.

You see, I wasn’t like that before :)  As a mom you learn to juggle, entertain, instruct, clean, and tap dance all at the same time.  Yay for our sweet skills.

3) Stretching My Heart

I never believed in love at first sight until I saw my children.  Wow.  It was this intense, instant love that poured over me.  I would do anything for them.  It’s a fierce, deep love that supersedes everything else.  It also overflows to other parts of my life.  It has made me less selfish and more giving.

I met Jeannett at a conference where she spoke about blogging for good.  She echoed my feelings and I was so touched by her remarks.  She said she wanted her children to have beautiful hearts.  This same desire has opened my own heart and given me the desire to reach out more.  I want my children to see what they are capable of.  I want them to do good.  I want them to be superheroes, not just play superheroes.  (I even made a video about that HERE.)

Let me leave you with just one more quote I love.

I actually sell this print in my shop and this week I’ll be donating any purchases of the file to the charity: water.  It’s $3.50 and you can find it HERE.  Mounting and printing instructions are HERE or framing instructions are HERE.

So, let’s celebrate our stretching.  Let’s see just how far we can reach.  Let’s reach out beyond the walls of our own homes and teach our children how to give.

Thanks for having me Jeannett.

* * * *

That was incredible, right?

I am always SO humbled and honored by the voices who agree to share in this space.  The incredible women being pushed along by hearts beating for MORE.  More than this life and this world hint at.

I love that Cheri is donating proceeds of her print to our fundraiser.  Please consider buying her print and/or donating to our fundraiser on your own.

Every little bit counts.  Please do not feel like you have to donate a huge amount…if just every person who reads these words gave one dollar…we’d build MULTIPLE wells. 

I mean that.  MULTIPLE.  For a buck a piece. 

Don’t assume everyone else will do it.

Don’t let yourself “do it later”.

Do it today.

Because it is good.

And talk to your kids about it.

Because it is good.

Can we afford NOT to?