Photo Credit: Eye for Ebony
I am constantly inspired by mothers.
When you become a mother your whole world instantly changes. I feel that motherhood can give you a deep sense of connection to those around you when you realize that we are all impacted, in some way, by the vulnerable intensity and power of motherly love. As mothers, we all want our children to be safe, happy and successful.
Photo credit: Jordan Whitt
Being a mother is incredibly rewarding and extremely difficult. Mothering a child with special needs can be even more challenging. I have had the honor of working with children with autism for around 10 years. Most of this work has occurred in homes; so I get an up-close look into the lives of many families. Mothers of children with special needs are remarkable human beings. I have drawn so much strength from observing these superhuman creatures in action. It fills me with courage and perseverance to see their level of strength, patience and resilience.
I have a whole store of memories that I pull from whenever I need some courage to mother my own children. I have seen mothers get to the end of themselves and with nothing left, they pick themselves up and keep walking and caring for their child. Perhaps there is this bottomless pit of motherly love that never runs dry.
The more I work with families, the more I see the commonality of motherhood. There is more that unites us than separates us. We all have the same motherly instincts running through our veins leading us to fiercely protect our child and lead them to the most success possible. No matter if a child is learning to say their first word, or learning how to brush their teeth or how to do algebra; each step is significant and worth celebrating. When you see that mother on the other side of the room, you don’t have to know her life story or her religion, political view or economical class; motherly love transcends all those things and connects to the deep core of our being. Everyone is impacted by that kind of love.
Photo credit: Julie Johnson
Witnessing the commonality and power of motherly love gives me hope for the world and for our future. Thank you to all the mothers who do the amazing work of loving and caring for your children, even when it’s hard. It really is the most important job.
Photo credit: Patricia Espedal
My praise of mothers doesn’t in any way negate the important role that Dads have. Dads are important and amazing in a very unique way.
A special thanks to my own mom who has given me a great deal of support, encouragement and love.