This guest post is by Anna Godby, writer who also blogs about gardening with your family at Tiny Trowelers. In this Happy Mother’s Day to Me series, mothers are celebrating themselves for the dedicated, loving, tireless mamas they are—and the important lessons we sometimes learn when peeking into the rearview mirror. Check out all the posts in the series!
Snowflake after snowflake lands on the windshield. It’s impossible to see more than a few feet ahead of my parents’ Chevy Astro, ice covering everything in the darkness. Yet somehow, I knew we would get home safely. After all, my dad was driving so I knew we would be fine and fell asleep.
Fast forward two decades, and I’m now the one clutching the wheel in terror as the snow refuses to let up and I have no idea where the lanes are. My heart is pounding as I envision a hundred ways for us to go off the road and wreck. Each time the radio cuts in with a weather and traffic update I clench my teeth in fear, especially for my two young children in the backseat.
I steal a glance in the rearview mirror to find them both sound asleep, snuggled in their car seats. Suddenly, a warm feeling of relief passes through me as I realize that my children put their blind faith in me just like I did with my own parents all those years ago. We made it home safe and sound.
It can be exhausting trying to live up to all the expectations of being a mother. I don’t see myself as perfect. I yell more often than I’d like, miss the alarm clock sometimes and my home won’t be photographed for Better Homes and Gardens any time soon.
But that’s the beauty of this wild ride they call motherhood. No matter how many times I feel I’ve failed, there are always two little ones inspiring me to keep a level head and continue.
One of the greatest lessons my kids are learning is that they don’t have to be perfect. They taught me this important lesson first through their unconditional love and trust just from the simple fact that I’m the one they call Mom.
And the next time I need encouragement, all I have to do is look in my rearview mirror.
Anna Godby is a freelance copywriter and social media strategist who also believes that gardening together is one of the greatest gifts you can give your family. She blogs about fitting nature and a green thumb into even the most hectic family schedules at Tiny Trowelers.
A wonderful capture of a moment that exemplifies motherhood. So much trust and responsibility, and our little ones are always there reminding us we’re doing okay despite feeling like we’re failing at times. Thank you for this!
All that trust makes me want to do better and better—but also forgive myself for the slip-ups, because they still trust me despite my mistakes.
I’m filing this away for my mama friends!
I hope it resonates with them too!
Love this. Those moments of clarity when you see yourself as the PARENT – they are breathtaking.
Especially when those realizations help you understand your own parents better.
Thanks for sharing the comfort and pride and responsibility embodied in just a 1 second glance to the back seat as a mom!
Love this! I always enjoy your posts which really show that being a mom changes everything!
A beautiful perspective and a spot-on metaphor. And that lesson about perfection (or the lack of it) will prove priceless to your little ones as they grow.