 Photo by Taryn Elliott at Pexels.com Motherhood Reflections With Mother’s Day on the horizon, I find myself feeling very sentimental as I reflect on my own motherhood journey. I remember the day I became a mom like it was yesterday. After nine long months of pregnancy, two days of labor, and an emergency C-section, the much-coveted title of “Mom” was finally mine. I had my precious baby boy, Tyler safe in my arms. To say I was proud would be an understatement. Throughout my pregnancy, I rocked and sang songs of love and devotion to my baby, but when I held Tyler for the first time, I was utterly speechless. The awe and wonder of it all were completely overwhelming. I tried to sing to him but would always cry. It was almost impossible to believe that this perfect little human being was "mine." So many mixed emotions were swirling inside of me. I remember feeling fiercely protective of him and also experiencing scary feelings of complete inadequacy. Anxious questions plagued my thoughts: What if I mess this motherhood thing up? What if I make a mistake? Why are they even letting me leave the hospital when I don’t know what I am doing? The questions went on and on. Well, I did mess this motherhood thing up at times, and I made plenty of mistakes along the way, but Tyler and Shannon are alive and well today, so I must have done something right in the end.  Photo by Gustavo Fring at Pexels .com It is funny that the most important job in the world is often undervalued and is entered into with literally no training other than “on the job” in most cases. When my children were little, my husband and I sacrificed so I could stay home with them. I will always cherish that time, yet truth be told, it was also one of the hardest things I have ever done. Many days were challenging. I felt unprofessional, frustrated, unappreciated, bored, lonely, isolated and stressed. I swore if one more little person came to me with a messy diaper or runny nose, I was out of there. But then there were the amazing days, and yes, there were many of those too. I would look around and see two of the most brilliant, special, creative, funny, and cherished little people by my side, and I would want to pinch myself that I had the pleasure of spending my days with them. I heard a quote this week about motherhood that said, “The days are long, but the years are short.” This is very true indeed. Many times in conversations back then, I felt disregarded when people heard I was a stay-at-home mom. That is okay, though, because I knew I was doing the most important job in the world, and I was very proud of myself.  My Mom I was raised by a very loving and involved mom. She loved my dad, her kids, and everyone around her with fierce devotion. She lived a life dedicated to God and others, providing a great example for my siblings and me of all that a mother should be. I am so grateful and blessed to call her mom. She embodied what it meant to "love God and love people" with all her heart. I recall many late-night chats about serious concerns, boys who broke my heart, or life-changing decisions that needed to be made. My mom was at the center of those conversations with a listening ear, great wisdom, and so many heartfelt prayers. She would wipe her eyes with her tea towel as we talked about our heartaches and struggles, showing me how bonded we were. When we hurt, she hurt. When we rejoiced, she did too. That’s what a good mother does, and she was the best! I miss her so much, but I am so very grateful for the wonderful memories I will always cherish of her as my mom and very best friend.  Photo by RDNE Stock project at Pexels We are all in this together Let me dispel the myth: there are no supermoms out there. All moms have good days and bad days. Sometimes the day runs smoothly, the kids are happy and engaged, and the aroma of a home-cooked meal fills the tidy house. Other days, our homes can feel like an episode of Hoarders, and it's cereal for supper... again! Speaking of cereal for supper, I have a friend I greatly admire whom I met through Facebook. She has done extremely well with a new business she started, is raising two amazing girls, has a passion for helping people and making a difference, and seems to really have this motherhood thing down. One night on Facebook, she posted, "It's cereal for supper, people! Tell me I'm not alone!" This friend has always been very open and honest about her struggles, victories, and life journey in general, and that comment just made me appreciate her all the more. It was funny to see the chain of people who commented on her thread, as we have all been there. There are no supermoms, just super ladies who are doing the best they can day after day. There is no cape required, but other attributes are necessary. They include honesty, a sense of humor, expert problem-solving skills, money management abilities, a listening ear, creativity, flexibility, wisdom, and an open and tender heart. We don’t have to be "Supermom," just the most super mom we can be in our own little household. The Bible says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." All things include motherhood too, ladies. Some seasons of motherhood are definitely harder than others, but we have God by our side and each other. Seasons change, problems pass, and children do grow up. Mine are now 29 and 27 and have grown up to be two of my very best friends. Let’s work to see the big picture and strive to be the best examples of moms for our kids that we can be, no matter what age they are. Making mistakes is inevitable, but being honest with our kids about our shortcomings is powerful too. Being real with them shows that even moms have good days and bad days, and that is crucial for them to see. It is not about the destination, but the journey. God bless you all on this crazy, yet amazing ride we call motherhood. I went to a baby shower this week, and the advice I gave the new mom was very simple: enjoy every minute because kids grow up way too fast! I know that is cliché, but it is so true. So moms, take a deep breath and one day at a time. You got this, and remember that being a mom is one of the most amazing experiences you will ever have, so in between all the ups and downs, please, please don’t forget to enjoy it. Until next time, Happy Mother's Day everyone! Dana
AuthorDana Romualdi is a Canadian elementary teacher, blogger, author, and speaker. She is dedicated to "loving God and loving people" with all her heart. With a passion for helping others and spreading much-needed encouragement, Dana makes a positive impact wherever she goes. She resides in Ontario with her husband and their two grown children.
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 Photo By: Kaboompics.com "When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on." ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt Lessons On The Track Track and Field season is in full swing at my school, and we had our competition this week at a beautiful track at the local high school. Despite the rain, the students persevered and did their best to complete all the events to the best of their ability. As I teach third grade, this was their first opportunity to participate in track and field, and the excitement was at an all-time high. I tried my best to offer every tip I could think of and even shared stories from my glory days in elementary school as a very competitive runner. It's hard to believe, but I was an exceptionally fast runner in my day, racking up a pile of first-place red ribbons and always landing a spot on the coveted relay team. One thing I feel I could have prepared them better for, though, is how far and long the 400m race actually is. Especially on the professional track, getting to the finish line seemed next to impossible for many.  Image by pvproductions on Freepik During this race, my colleague and I were terrified to see a student collapse on the track. We ran over as fast as possible to assist and assess the situation. There he was, laying on the track, spread eagle. We were understandably very concerned. Quickly, I realized it was one of my students and asked him what happened and if he was alright. Much to my relief, he smiled and said, "I am just fine. It's just 400m is way too much for me!" Then he said the cutest thing next: "Maybe I will try 500m sometime though!" I was thankful he was okay and couldn't help but smile at his cute comment. I helped him up, got him a much-needed drink, and told him how proud I was that he was willing to attempt something so challenging.  Image by azerbaijan_stockers on Freepik Relating to My Student You know, I can so relate to my student. So many times in life, when the going gets tough, I have wanted to drop out of the race and call it quits. When the finish line is nowhere in sight, or the task is way more than I signed up for, I have wanted for so many reasons to say, like they do on the TV show Shark Tank, "And for those reasons, I'M OUT!" Is this resonating with you as well? If so, I am here for you, my sister or my brother. There are so many things in life that are much harder than we might have ever anticipated. These could include:
The list goes on and on. I don't know your situation. I would never want to minimize what you or anyone is going through, but I do know this: You are a lot stronger than you think.  I know this because chances are this is not your first rodeo with the tough times department, and congratulations—you have lived to tell about it and probably have helped others who are there now as well with what you learned in your time of trial. When hard times come, look at all that you have already come through and know that you are still here. Remind yourself that hard times do not last forever and this too shall pass. Know that you are not alone.
On the contrary, you are in very good company with others who also struggle. In fact, truth be told it is a very large team. In Philippians 4:13, it says: "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me." When we can't seem to hold on, we need to cling to the ONE who helps us hold on just a little longer. It could be for one more minute, hour, or day, depending on the situation. Also, remember just like the relay team, when we share the load with others, we all win and cross the finish line together. Please don't give up. When you feel like giving up, tie a knot and hold on. Your breakthrough is coming, and the finish line could be much closer than you even realize. Call to Action:
Meet you at the finish line! You got this! Until next time, Dana Please follow me on Facebook at Little Lessons Learned by Dana here. Tags: perserverance, patience, don't give up, one day at a time, problem solvingCopyright: © 2025 littlelessonslearnedbydana (Dana Romualdi)
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