On "Hard"

It’s not having 6 kids that’s the most difficult; it’s having 2 babies 13 months apart. Or having one baby as a new mom. Or transitioning to 2 or 3 or 4 or... Having 6 kids is hard. Having 2 kids is hard. Having 1 kid is hard.

I was (sometimes) overwhelmed as a new mom with “just” 1. I was (sometimes) overwhelmed as a mom with 2. And so it goes… I am (sometimes) overwhelmed with 6.

Don’t tell a mom of “just” 1 that it’s easy because it’s “just” 1 OR that it’s “too hard” and she isn’t a good enough mom or shouldn’t have had 1 child. Don’t tell a mom of 2, 3, 4, or 6 that it’s easy because it’s “just” ____.

OR that it’s “too hard” and she shouldn’t have had___ children.

Being a mom is hard and (sometimes) overwhelming whether you have “just” 1 or “just” 2, 3, 4, 6, or ____.

I needed God’s grace with 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 5. And I need God’s grace with 6.

I make lots of mistakes. Some days and some moments each day are hard and overwhelming.

I’m tired. There is sometimes lots of crying (and the kids cry, too! 😉 ). So that’s why I am reminding myself again today: that’s why I need Him.

That’s why I need His grace and wisdom and the fruits of the Spirit. That’s why I need new days and new beginnings. That’s why I need forgiveness. That’s why I need encouragement and community and hope that even on the overwhelming days, His Grace is enough.