I don't expect my kids to say thank you for keeping them alive, but it would be nice if they did. Day in and day out, my responsibility is to keep them safe, and I do it not anticipating a thank you, yet leaning in to the thought of how joyful the sound of it would feel.
Being a mother is a beautiful and often thankless job. It's a career path that you choose without ever knowing the true job description. You approach the journey of motherhood with an open heart and mind because the road will constantly change. Now, don't get me wrong, I will be the first to say I joined the motherhood subscription willingly.
While I didn't initially believe being responsible for another human was in the cards for me, once the seed was planted, I couldn't imagine any other way of life. Having my first child changed the trajectory of my life. Living began to have a purpose outside of myself, and it felt inviting. As I delved deeper into the meaning of parenthood, I found that things were constantly changing, causing me to evolve both as an individual and as a parent.
Now, this stuff is back-beating work. It's night after night without ceasing. It doesn't matter if you do it every day, alternate weekends, or come around on holidays; the active work of parenting is relentless.
I love it, and I'd love to hear a thank you for it. Is that so much to ask? Part of my job has been instilling the importance of gratitude into my little ones. When I interact with those, they are around outside of me, and they repeatedly express how grateful they are. There are times when I wish this would pass on to me. Alley oop me a, "appreciate you, mom." Just a little here and there, like sprinkles on top of an ice cream cone.
Being a consistent, daily parent can be a thankless experience. Despite that, it is a beautiful opportunity. Each day, I strive to be thankful because I am blessed to have them. After a full day of cleaning, doing hair and getting hair, and feeding everyone, I paused and kissed my firstborn. I thanked this little one for allowing me to be their guide, their mother. Being thankful for them is how I can continue to show up peacefully, positively, and productively. This work is for both them and me. Doing my part to add helpful energy back into the universe.
I'll keep telling them thank you, and maybe one day, they'll say thank you back to me.
Motherhood is a Thankless Career
