I’m participating in Momalom’s Five for Ten Again and the first topic is COURAGE.
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This one’s a hard one for me.
I’ve never thought of myself as courageous. At all.
I’m sort of afraid of everything, to some degree.
I have this feeling of resistance and fear in my head and in my heart.
All the time.
I know my limits, and they are many.
I am a wimp.
But mostly, you would never know it.
To you, I may seem strong and bold and fun.
Years of practice I promise you.
To you, I may seem courageous.
But I’m not.
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And then I got to thinking.
You see, something happened to me along the way.
I became a mother.
To be a mother is to be courageous.
The two go hand in hand.
My little people give me all the courage I need.
And I give it right back to them.
Every day.
Not so wimpy after all.
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Courage.
It’s what’s for breakfast.
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great post! I feel the same way you do. I am definitely wimpy, but you are right. Motherhood makes you courageous without you even realizing it!
I have found through reading all of these Five For Ten posts that motherhood REALLY is the bravest thing we’ve done in our lives. I had never thought of it that way but it’s almost a relief to read so many people feeling that way.
It definitely takes courage to get out of bed each day to face the same day in and day out drama. Without it, I’d throw the covers back over my head!
Thanks for this great post!
You’re right, I don’t think you are wimpy. This post is not wimpy. You’re right about needing courage to become a mom. Every moment takes courage – every time they are out of your sight, you have to be brave (and put on a brave face for them).
I so agree…to take the risk to become a mother…knowing that it will be incredible, but also the scariest part of our lives is pretty courageous! To take the chance and work so hard to create, mold, nurture little ones who depends completely on us? Brave.
Nicely written!
If there’s anything I’ll take away from Five for Ten it’s that we’re all pretending. We’re all walking around with the courage masks pulled over our faces, hoping that no one calls our bluff or sees through the veneer. I’m doing it, you’re doing it … and likely so are the people who most intimidate us. It’s like a revelation.
Being a mom is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and before this series I’d never considered it a courageous thing. But some many people have written such eloquent posts on the topic it has really set me to thinking. Maybe it is courageous embarking on this thing called motherhood. Being everything to them and finding strength and wisdom to help them grow. So glad you are participating Maria!
I am amazed at how many of us think we are the Poster Child for Chicken. And yet, here are all of these amazing women putting themselves out there.
Glad to meet you via Five for Ten! It’s pretty awesome, isn’t it?
Yes, it’s what’s for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Oh, and don’t forget snack time!
Yes. Motherhood–so brave. I naively ignored this tidbit until I was already committed. So courageous. Every minute. Thanks for a lovely piece. (And I’m loving this FiveforTen!)
I completely agree with you
Good post courageous woman.
I usually feel pretty wimpy most of the time, too, but I try to wear my Brave Cape for my kids. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Great post.
Motherhood-and making the hard choices to be a good mom-are indeed the hallmarks of true courage. Even if you don’t feel like it, you’re living it every day.
Can I have breakfast at your house? All we have is scrambled eggs! :p You’re right, there is something intrinsically courageous about becoming a parent–and our children both remind us of that and remind us how brave they are, every day.
I love this. You got it! I guess being a Mom takes courage. I never thought of it that way. But I will start. I am always so fearful, about them getting ill or hurt…I just never thought of myself as brave.
Thanks for getting me thinking.
It’s amazing…the courage that comes from standing up for your kids. Protecting them. Loving them. And feeling it all in return. It strengthens the way nothing else in life can.
I love this! Thanks for yet another great post!
I can not agree more that becoming a mother has made me more courageous than I ever thought possible. I mentioned on Motherese’s post that although I do not consider making breakfast for my kids a courageous act, I know there is a well of courage deep within me that would do anything for my kids if need be. I just pray there will be no blood involved – because oh wow – I get weak in the knees at the sight of blood….
Happy to meet you on the courage tour!!
Lee
I was like you. I did not think of myself as courageous. I had a hard time writing my own post. The initial drafts felt empty to me. And then my thoughts turned away from me and to my kids. To motherhood. And I saw the bravery in my children. How it mimicked my own, while I mimicked them. It’s a kind of parent/child symbiosis.
But I took it even further than that. In coming to define my own courage through them, as their mother, as a woman, I started to look back at my life and was able to redefine many moments, both simple and large, that I can now say found me courageous.
In the end, it is all about motherhood. It always will be. But I’ve found that being a mother to these three, wild boys has brought me closer to myself then I ever thought I would be. Given me strength to believe in a me that I actually feared I might lose when I became their mom.
Yep, there’s nothing more terrifying then being pregnant, delivering the baby, and then having to take care of it. Motherhood ain’t for wimps, that’s for sure!!
Courage for breakfast. Served up with a side of good old fashioned fear. Good thing the fear is only the side dish. Parenthood is courage in itself! *pats self and all other parents on back* Yours is a beautiful post, thanks for sharing it!
Truly beautiful. I know what you mean about courage, acting courageous but feeling like a wimp. And I agree that becoming a parent is very courageous.
It’s definitely a courageous thing to have kids and raise them up. No doubt. I like how you turned this post around. I’m wimp in a lot of cases too…
I love it! I feel the same way. I am a total baby about any number of things, but I think I’ve become much braver since becoming a mom (thank goodness). Now, if I could just do something to alleviate my fear of spiders. I’ve found my kid doesn’t respond well when I let loose a terrified scream at the sight of one. In that arena I’m still a complete wuss.
Beautiful, Maria! It’s true, motherhood gives you a kind of courage you’d have never imagined.
That is so true. Like i never thought I could handle a severed finger, but when it happened to Mas I was in action mode and everything he needed me to be. It just came to me.
However, I will NEVER be courageous when he hands me a bug or reptile. EW.
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