March is Strong Women Month

Sometimes I think that finding someone to admire is half the battle in this life. It feels like there aren’t enough heros or heroines to emulate once you pass the age of 10. As a mother, I find myself searching for inspiration to create a better home life for my son, my husband and for myself. This weekend I met a woman that gave me strength, just by being near her. When I say met, I mean I felt as if I was meeting her for the first time. She is actually a friend from college that I haven’t seen in around 15 years. Back then we were both different people from who we are now. We were young, energetic women who thought mainly about normal college girl stuff. That was our life. It was fun and right for our age. Today we are both married and mothers of beautiful children that for the most part, are our lives.

Seeing her yesterday was like seeing the best of what a mother can be. She is in control of 4 children (all so individual in character). I could tell that it was control that was not easily won. But, she holds the reigns with such grace and solidity, that it made me feel such admiration. My time as a mother has been wonderful. Miles is my joy and main reason for getting myself out of bed in the morning. I don’t quite feel though, that I maintain the well oiled machine called motherhood that she does. Her eyes and ears were everywhere, all the time. Even when all of the children where downstairs playing, I could tell that part of her was down there with them keeping the troops in line. I could tell that peace is kept through rules on top of rules, which need to stay intact and followed. She never really raised her voice, but mostly gave simple instructions and reminded them of conversations that had gone on earlier in the day. Always, underneath the rules, was love.

Not only is she able to handle raising 4 children, she works from home. I don’t mean works from home like crocheting a few pieces a month and posting them on Etsy. I mean she has a real job as a marketing writer AND a freelance job on the side with the local health food store. That’s so much. That’s incredible to think about. Of course, she’s not alone in raising the children, she has a wonderful husband and mother that lives near by. It’s just that I know she works so damn hard to keep it all together and I can’t imagine how. She is still that funny, intelligent, warm person that I remember from college, but now she’s so much more. She has levels of determination and love that I never knew existed.

Thank you piximama for the inspiration and continued friendship.