Poem on Motherhood

With Mother's Day this month, I've been thinking a lot about the amazing journey of motherhood -the ups and downs and all it entails. I felt inspired to write a little poem about it and wanted to share it here on my blog, along with some "Mom moment" pictures from the last few years. Hope you enjoy!

Motherhood

By Debbie Day

Motherhood is sweaty.

It’s flustered, frenzied, and exasperated.

It’s socks on the table and crumbs in the carpet.

It’s headaches, backaches, and stomachaches.

It’s cleaning up and washing off.
It’s a never-ending mess cycle.

It’s worn-out.

It’s waking up.

It’s dog-tired.

It’s fighting off loneliness, because motherhood is isolating.

It’s fighting off anxiety, because motherhood is worry.  

It’s fighting off an angry rampage, because motherhood pushes you to the edge.

It’s feeling like you’re failing.

Motherhood is your weaknesses magnified.   

It’s guilt. Diaper-loads of guilt, because motherhood is mistakes.

It’s too many treats and too much TV.

It’s yelling and frustration and outbursts.

It’s beating yourself up and crying over chocolate.

It’s comparing yourself and not measuring up.

It’s trying again and again and again and again.

Motherhood is prayer.

Prayers for advice, prayers for patience, prayers for forgiveness, prayers for just one itty bitty nap.   

Motherhood is love.

It’s deep, aching, painful, powerful love.

It’s watching home movies after bedtime because you can’t get enough.

It’s holding hands on the sidewalk, waiting at the bottom of the slide, and spraying on three coats of sunscreen.  

It’s teaching and hoping and wanting what’s best.

It’s indescribable joy.

It’s pride and praise and clapping.

It’s popsicles and bicycles.

It’s collecting rocks and trips to the river.

It’s digging in the dirt and catching grasshoppers.

  

It’s forest adventures, river adventures, mountain adventures, and pillow adventures.

It’s blanket tunnels and table tents.

It’s giggles and kissing owies better.

It’s goofiness, silliness, and ridiculously hilarious.

It’s obsessing over squishiness, and chubby profiles.

It’s cuddling and books and telling stories.

It’s singing and dancing and laughing.

It’s grabbing your chest and uttering, “Awwwwww!”

It’s your heart bursting.

It’s literally heaven.

Motherhood is the hardest thing you’ve ever done.

It’s stretching and growing and learning.

It’s stripping away selfishness.

It’s unparalleled motivation to change.

It’s sacrifice and tears.

It’s not easy.

But motherhood is worth it.

It’s inexpressibly fulfilling.  

It’s all you ever hoped for.

It’s God’s holiest calling.   

It’s the best thing that ever happened to you.

Motherhood is the greatest treasure on earth.

My first official publication is here!

I was so excited to see this come in the mail today! What you are looking at in the picture above is the beginning of a life-long dream come true. This is the book that contains my very first "official" (non-self-published) publication!! I feel so honored and grateful to be one of the thirty-one people featured in this inspiring anthology!

My Story!

 Hey look at that, I'm on the back, woot woot!

The Book of hope is an anthology composed of everyday authors who have written their true stories of when they lost hope and found it again. In my story, I share about a unique and annoying three year long tooth fiasco which  had me constantly worried I would at any moment turn into gap-toothed pirate lady. Sound kinda random? Well, it really is, and it probably doesn't sound like a story that belongs in this book, but weaved into this dental dilemma is a pretty unbelievable miracle that gave me proof that God cares about even the smallest of problems we face.

If interested, you  can buy your copy on Amazon right here: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Hope-Stories-People-Didnt/dp/1879375052/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491875804&sr=8-1&keywords=the+book+of+hope+silver+owl+publications

More soon! 

Exciting news! ...And other updates.

Yesterday was a day of days! It was a day where history was made! It was a day where dreams came true! Ok, I'm sure it's not THAT big of a deal, but for me, it was huge! It's a start.

Yesterday was the first day ever that I got one of my writings published by a real life publishing company! ...(And they are even paying me for it, which makes it feel official and all). HURRAY!

Members of the New Spirit Journal are compiling a book of stories about hope - ones where the writers lost hope and gained it again. In my story, my hope came from a promise made by God. It took a little bit of time to be fulfilled, but the hope of that promise got me through years of uncertainty. The book will be called "The Book of Hope Anthology" and will be available this coming January, so stay tuned! 

I have to say, I am so grateful that my testimony of God's love and the hope of his goodness will be shared with others. I couldn't have picked a better first published project. That's really my goal in writing anything - to inspire, uplift (and sometimes make people laugh). So this is an extra special project to be a part of for me! I'll keep you updated on release dates and such, I think it really will be a great book!

In other news, I've been extremely busy Mommying lately and haven't had much time for writing projects. My little girl is now 2 months old and such a little sweetie! My twin boys (who I love, love love!) are busier than ever, and it takes all my strength to keep them from fighting or destroying the house.

The other day I was listening to a podcast on Writer's Digest where a Children's book author/illustrator was being interviewed and she was asked how she finds time to write. Her response: "Well, I really admire writers with kids- I don't know how they do it. I don't have kids and writing is all I do." Well, I'll tell you how we do it...We do it very, very slowly, one small effort at a time. And that's OK. :)

So, my plan is that in a couple months or so when things calm down, I'll get back to working on my book about Twins, which I hope to complete by next summer! In the meantime, I'll keep my eyes peeled for small contests that pop up - projects that take a day or two. For stay at home parents, or working people, this is a great way to stay in the writing world - many contests  are free, quick and easy to submit to. And you never know, one of them may get published!

Despite limited time, I have managed to join a local writer's group in the last few weeks and it's already proven to be great! I found out about the Book of Hope submissions through my writing group and also some pretty neat writing opportunities from fellow authors. Writing groups are so beneficial! I would say they are ESSENTIAL for any writer! So, if you love to write and want to improve on your craft, look up a writing group near you! They are everywhere and they are sooo worth it! I know it can be very intimidating putting your writing out there for other people's critique, but it's the only way to get to your goals of publishing (if that's what you want).

Stay tuned for more soon!