Gentleness in Motherhood

Elizabeth Estrada makes a resolution to stop missing the moment because she's striving so hard for perfection.

Motherhood is beautiful and hard. It can be so hard that I can forget the gift that it is and has been for the last 15 years of my son’s life. Motherhood has been more of a roller-coaster ride than a journey for me. As a teacher, I can be extra critical with myself about my parenting and what it should be.

When my son was about four years old, I remember thinking that how could it be possible that I could control a class of 20 kids and failed miserably doing the same thing with my one and only son.

As he grew older, the challenge continued due to his journey of trauma and special needs. Even knowing that he had challenges, I still couldn’t help but think that I should know how to help him as his mother. I wanted to be able to guide him and support him without the pain.

This Lent I have decided to be gentle with myself especially as a mother. I have noticed that being critical with myself and sometimes of my son isn’t making motherhood any easier. As I sit in Adoration and in Mass, I always ask God to do His will with my son. I know that it is the best thing to pray for, but I also know that I need to surrender my motherhood to God as well. I really think that is the major piece that is missing. I am trying to do motherhood on my own instead of allowing God to transform it and guide it.

Click to tweet:
I don't want to regret missing moments with my son because I was too busy trying to be the greatest mom in the world. #catholicmom

I don’t want to look back and regret missing moments with my son because I was too busy trying to be the greatest mom in the world. Instead, I want to be the mother he needs me to be, and God created me to be.

This Lent I plan to surrender my motherhood to God and enjoy every present moment, because that is where He is.

In what part of your life do you need to be gentle with yourself?

toddler balancing on mom's legs