Allow me to be real real with you right now. I am a mother and I am a writer. Both the mother and writer in me wanted to create a go-to list of loving phrases for mothers because, as a mother, I know that there are times when we need to encourage ourselves and, as a writer, I know that words are powerful tools. I started gathering these affirmational phrases and quotes about motherhood for you, dear reader, but it turns out that I really needed them myself.
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I honestly, can’t count how many times I burst out crying from reading these love phrases and quotes every mom should know and writing my thoughts on them. I’m still crying, but in a good way. It is my wish, that these words bring you the comfort that they brought me and that they allow you to show yourself grace, understanding, and support as you do what Ricki Lake calls “the greatest thing and the hardest thing.” She’s not wrong!
For those times when you feel weak.
Motherhood has a way of bringing you to your knees at times and making you feel like you just don't have the strength to deal with a certain situation but you do. You truly are so much stronger than you think or give yourself credit for, and time and time again, you have proven it to yourself and your family.
OMG, this!
Regardless of whether they work outside of the home or not, all mothers are working mothers. You know this, other mothers know this, but some fools just don't know. Be patient with those fools because clearly, they don't know that motherhood is a 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week kind of gig.
This is why you care so very much.
Elizabeth Stone is credited with the following quote: "Making the decision to have a child — it is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." It's so true and helps explain why as a mother you care so very much.
Whose great kid is that?
That's your great kid! Yup, your kid is great — focus on that instead of worrying about how you're screwing everything up. You're not, and all you have to do is look at your kid and how great they are to see that you're doing an awesome job.
In other words, pick your battles.
Don't let perfectionism get you down. Life will never be perfect and neither will your life as a parent. There will always be laundry and dishes to do. So what? Focus on the things that really matter like enjoying time with your kids, even if the sink is full of dishes.
Great news for all mothers!
We've got great news and even greater news. The great news is that there is no way to be a perfect mother, so we call all stop trying to achieve the impossible. The greater news is that there are a million ways to be a good mother and our way doesn't have to look like anybody else's way.
Trust your instincts.
Parenting does not come with a manual and even if you read all the parenting books in the world, you'll get conflicting advice. You have to trust your instincts as a parent and stop worrying so much about random advice coming your way. You know to go to a doctor when your baby is sick. For other things, you get to figure it out your own way by doing what feels right for your child.
Your ability to love is a marvelous thing.
How amazing are you that you can love so wholeheartedly and always have more love to give? This love of yours is a beautiful gift that you pour into your children. Be proud of this love you give and be sure to channel some of that love toward yourself as well.
Practice the three Ps.
On a daily basis, practice positivity, patience, and persistence. It will serve you and your children well. Also, did you notice how "perfection" isn't on the list of things to practice? That P is pointless. Throw that P to the curb.
Guess what you are?
You are straight-up magic! You can soothe your child better than anyone else. Your arms are filled with magic, love, and healing powers. The sooner you embrace those powers, the better because not only are you enough, you are more than enough.
Life doesn't have to be perfect and neither do you.
Surely we can all agree that life doesn't have to be perfect to be wonderful, otherwise no one would have a wonderful life. Well, same goes for being a mother. You don't have to be perfect to be a wonderful mother.
It's SO hard to be a mother!
Is it tough to be a mother? Absolutely! But guess what? You are your toughest critic, not your kids. They aren't sitting there judging you. They are staring at you that way because they love you so much.
You get to wake up and be amazing every day.
Every morning you get to wake up and be amazing in the eyes of your children. Seriously, they think you're amazing before you have your cup of coffee, before you brush your teeth, before you do anything. You just wake up that way. Embrace it. They aren't wrong: You are amazing.
It really is the greatest and hardest thing.
It seems that whenever a mother complains about anything having to do with motherhood, someone immediately expects her to say, "But it's worth it." And if she doesn't say it, then they'll ask "But it's worth it, right?" Yes, of course it's worth it, but a mother needs the space to unload on occasion because being a mother is the greatest and hardest thing ever.
Every mistake comes with a lesson.
"I made no mistakes raising my children," said no mother ever. Mistakes come with the territory. They happen, but instead of beating yourself up over them, learn from them so that you don't make the same mistake again and move on.
