You are enough and so much more.

What prepares us for the reality of having children?

The beautiful belly illuminated under a maxi dress covers fatigued legs, taxed veins, swollen feet - a vagina that feels like it's going to fall off. A decade later and I still have a body taxed from the hard work of carrying and delivering a child. Intermittent physical therapy addresses years of manual labor: the around the clock supply and demand of milk production; shoulders bent forward from constant carrying; arms and hips lopsided from being a pack mule track star.

Physicality is only one challenging aspect to this new existence. Hoping you have a partner in all this - you have to redefine what your relationship looks like and revisit all those troubles you worked so hard to stack into place to avoid collapse. Would we ever have children if we knew what it was really like? Maybe that's why the mystery is kept under a veil…

I know, I make it sound like doom's day. The truth is I love being a mom and I wouldn't trade it for the world. But it is HARD work and work that doesn't get nearly enough credit or appreciation. And that's where I come in. I am here to acknowledge and honor women as they journey through the transformation into motherhood. Wink wink.

I cannot tell you how many times I have had to mentally pat myself on the back just to keep going; how many times I have unjustifiably felt unworthy or guilty privilege because I am staying home to take care of my children; felt insult upon hearing mothers say they can't imagine staying home with the children for fear of boredom or because they needed to use their brain.

In all honesty, I have had moments of boredom and wanting more. But doesn't that come with all life experiences? Self assessed, boredom flies off while exhaustion holds on, the other end of the teeter totter weighted down with meaningful engagement, fulfillment, welcomed challenge, expressing creativity, enjoying flexibility, practicing patience.

I admire and support women who choose to continue or begin a career after having a child. And I am starting to better understand why women make that choice as I embrace a career outside of motherhood. But as I tell my children, we can be proud of our strengths and accomplishments without comparing ourselves to others. As a mother you are enough and so much more.