I see you, Mama.

I see your tired eyes, your weary soul.

You put up a good front, smiling through the struggles.

You do it for those babies. So that they don't bear witness to your exhaustion.

You do it for your husband, worried that his load is already too heavy for your burdens.

You do it for yourself, just trying to fake it into existence, so that you can fool yourself into believing you're fine.

You lie in bed each night, long after the lights are all out and everyone is sound asleep, and you recap your day...amazed that you managed to survive another one.

You will be okay.

Worry etched permanently into your brain; it's all you know these days.

You worry that you aren't enough. That you don't do enough. That you're not giving enough of yourself to those you love.

But how can you when you are drained to the point of having so little left to pass around?

The guilt feels overwhelming.

It's hard to talk about. It makes you feel weak to admit that you're not okay.

You're not weak; you're human.

And you need some self-care. You need some self-love.

You need a break from those negative thoughts; time alone to renourish your soul.

You need positive affirmations.

You need to know that you matter.

You need someone to tell you that you're essential to keeping the world turning round.

You need someone to tell you that they see you.

You need someone to tell you that you will be okay.

You are not alone in these thoughts and feelings.

You are doing the best you can, and that's all anyone can ask of you.

You are strong.

You are important.

You are loved.

You are more than enough.

I see it.

And I want you to see it.

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