To All the Amazing Kinds of Moms Out There

Last week, my oldest sister attended my daughter’s birthday party.  My 6-year old loves art projects, so some of her gifts included a rock painting kit and a tie-dye t-shirt kit.

“Sorry I’m not the kind of mom that did cool art projects with you,” my sister told my 22-year old niece.

Yes.  I’m the mom who does art projects with my kiddo.  We paint rocks and sticks and dye shirts and make jewelry out of pipe cleaners and beads.  I love to create and that’s one of the ways I bond with my daughter.  I’m that kind of mom.

But here’s what my sister doesn’t think about…she’s the kind of mom who kept her $hit together for both her kids when her husband was away on active duty in the military for weeks on end.  The kind of mom who survived something like 4 moves in 9 years and helped her kids make friends and build a home at each new location.  The kind of mom who raised 2 ridiculously amazing and self-reliant and intelligent kids.  You’re an amazing mom.

And my type-A, control freak college best friend…she’s the kind of mom who stays up all night or contacts friends across the country for help doctoring a sick pig.  The kind of mom who hates most pets but allows her daughter to keep two cats, including one with a gender identity crisis, in the house.  The kind of mom who withstood a hard divorce and had the courage to risk her heart again and show her kids what survival and strength and courage is.  You’re an amazing mom.

And my crazy, artist photography friend…she’s the kind of mom who wore her kids in a wrap and packed them along on all sorts of amazing adventures.  The kind of mom who booked a yurt in Alaska with a toddler because it sounded like fun and packed that same toddler on her back on an epic overnight mountain hike because it sounded like fun.  The kind of mom who’s running for office, running a wildly successful business and raising 2 fun-loving bold little girls who love fish and adventure and all things dirty.  You’re an amazing mom.

And my to my neighbor down the road…she’s the kind of mom who lets her kids run around barefoot all day in the mud and dirt and yes, even poop, and catch frogs and leap off the top of the playground equipment without batting an eye.  She’s raising her kids to not sweat the small stuff and enjoy being kids.  You’re an amazing mom.

And to my boss…she’s the kind of mom who secretly hates sports but faithfully drives her boys to baseball practice across town and to tournaments across the state because it’s what they love to do and it’s something they share with her husband.  She’s raising her kids to respect coaches, to stick with something even after it’s not fun and to be accountable to your team.  You’re an amazing mom.

And to my client and new friend…she’s the kind of mom who’s fighting with every ounce of her being for the health and welfare of her special-needs kiddo.  The kind of mom who has endured her daughter’s seizures and setbacks and dealt with pain and grief on a scale I can’t even fathom, and yet still keeps love in her heart and kindness in her dealings with everyone she meets.  You’re an amazing mom.

There are a thousand ways to mom.  And all of them are right.

Stay-at-home mom
Working mom
Nursing mom
Formula mom
Free-range mom
Schedule nazi mom
Soccer mom
Horse show mom
Dance mom
Homebaked cookie mom
Bakery baked birthday cake mom
Organic vegetables for every meal mom
McDonalds Drive-Thru on Thursday mom
Pinterest Project mom
Pinterest fail mom

And yes, even rock-painting, pheasant chasing, picture taking mom

We’re all amazing moms.  Say it again.  WE ARE ALL AMAZING MOMS.  Because we are here for our kids and we raising them in the best way we know how.  We aren’t perfect and we’ll never get it perfect.  But we’re present in their lives.  Keeping them safe.  Helping them learn.  Loving those kids.  I mean we are loving the HELL out of these kids.  And for my money, that makes you the most amazing mom I know.

–Teresa