To the moms.

BY MEGHAN REEVE

Meg is a 34 yr old iced coffee drinking California girl living in the PNW. She is a tiny human teacher and a cheerleader for the dreams of not only the tiny humans but every human in her life. She strives to show others who they are by trying to be exactly who she is on the daily.

Firstly and most importantly, you are doing just fine. Honestly, you are doing better than fine. You are crushing it.

I know I'm not a mom like you, but as a preschool teacher, former children's pastor, and former childcare coordinator, I have interacted with over 1,000 children in the last 15 years of my life. Of all ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, and family units.

But that also means I've interacted and sat with, laughed and cried with a lot of moms. More than I can count or fathom.

To add to that, I have a lot of friends who are moms: working moms, stay at home moms, homeschool moms, single moms. And of course, I have a mom and also a lot of bonus moms all around.

Bottom line: I am a huge supporter of moms.

From all of you, I've learned so much and gleaned wisdom and knowledge and maybe, just maybe a little bit of sarcasm.

I've seen the way your eyes seem more wrinkly and your body aches a little more.

I've seen the love in your heart even when the words coming out of your mouth feel frustrated. 

I've seen you second guess and feel guilty and bite your tongue but then say it anyway.

I've seen you cry; I've heard it over the phone.

I've stopped myself from hugging you for fear of squeezing out a tear.

I've seen you laugh. I've seen you laugh in exhaustion, in joy, in silliness.

I've seen you replace your dreams.

I've seen you look in longing.

What I'm saying is I see you.

I've witnessed you finding yourself. Finding a balance. Finding pieces of who you are that maybe got lost in a flurry of diapers and late-night feedings. I've seen you give pieces to your kids. I've seen their attitude and humor and love of Chick-Fil-A breakfast. And I know that's you in them.

I've gotten to watch tiny humans grow into teenagers. Teenagers that go to high school and drive and also do stupid idiotic things.

I've watched you give boundaries and let failure happen even through gritted teeth. 

I've watched you allow your kids to scrape their knees knowing that they needed to try anyway. I've watched you allow yourself to scrape your knees knowing you needed to try anyway.

And I want you to know that I am here for you.

I've helped raise A LOT of tiny humans. I've walked alongside you while I helped with plans for behavior, potty training, and sleep training. But, at the end of the day, I can come home and sit in a silent house with a glass of wine.

So, because of all of that and so much more I want you, my sweet mom friend to know this:

You are a warrior. And I know a lot of you warriors.

And I know, I know, I know, I've read the memes and the Home Goods picturesque stock art about being a mom, and it's all lovely and sunshine and roses and the only job ever and yadda yadda yadda.

I want you to know I see you, and you can post about being thankful for your children and grateful for the small moments. But, it's still a hard job. You're allowed to say that.

When I think of warrior moms, so many of you come to my mind. But, right now the one that pops up is my friend Priscilla. Priscilla is a stay-at-home mom of two sassy little girls. She and her husband Tyler aren't just best friends of mine -- they are family.

And the warrior moment I think of when I think of Priscilla is not super glamorous. We all volunteer for Royal Family Kids Camp. And when her youngest was three months old, we had camp, and Priscilla went. 

And there was a moment where she was pumping (which she did often) and also helping figure out a situation with a camper and a counselor. She was barely sleeping, but she was still doing the thing, supporting her counselors on her floor and connecting with the campers.

Priscilla loves RFKC, she and Tyler are the directors of the mentor club, and it's a passion of both of theirs. Priscilla fights tirelessly for our Royal Family kids. She also is an absolutely amazingly creative mom and an incredibly loyal friend.

She's a warrior. A beautiful human doing the dang thing.

I don't know what your passions are, what things you've set aside for a moment or for five years or 18 years.

I want you to know that you aren't just a mom.

I want you to know you are a multitasking hero, even when you don't want to be.

I want you to know that not only do you have beautiful things to give this world via your kiddos, just like my friend Priscilla, but you also have beautiful things to give this world via yourself.

I want you to know you are doing just fine.

I want you to know you are crushing it.

I want you to know that I've got your back.

I want you to know, you're a warrior.

With love, a big mom supporter,

Miss Meg