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Challenge: Finding Your Village

You can't hide, mama & hear me when I say, you don't want to.

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You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from those two pink lines because in nine months those lines will have chubby sniff-worthy legs prime for smoochin', squeezin', and tickling.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from the transformation that is about to take place internally -- inside of your head, heart and deep into the pits of your soul -- and externally -- both in your immediate and extended environment.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from the hormones and how vulnerable they will make you feel. Feel all of the feelings, but only let the good ones stick around.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from your mirror as your body expands. Embrace your belly growth and appreciate the beauty of your new shape because it's a great indicator that your heart is strengthening and increasing its capacity for love.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from the man whom you married and vowed to love forever, and honestly, even if you try, the "good ones" will always find you and love you that much harder.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from the pain that is childbirth. Okay, an epidural can and will help conceal the discomfort, but take this from a woman who has been in labor three times, the agony is a bit cathartic and while you are birthing your baby, you too kind of get born-again.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from the colicky tyke whose life depends on you, and even if you were to try, most offspring are innately stage-five clingers anyway, and they'll still find you.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from the learning curve that is new motherhood, but trust in yourself that, soon, parenting will feel more natural and less depleting and challenging.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from all of the decisions you will have to make with your child's well-being in mind, and speaking of mind, "mom-brain" will dominate yours.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from work. Whether it's a 9-5 job, keeping up with your home and it's inhabitants, self-improvement or a combination of any of the three, any attempts by you to thwart your living or non-living responsibilities will -- for the foreseeable future -- be unsuccessful.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from your tribe; from your family and friends who will, thankfully, not let you stay purposefully or inadvertently lost for too long.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from the pull you'll feel to add yet another munchkin (or two or three) to your brood though you are fully aware of the additional strain another beating heart will undoubtedly put on your marriage, time, wallet and lifestyle.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from the contradiction that is motherhood, and that's okay because it has the unique ability to incite, provoke, prompt, encourage and inspire change, transformation and all sorts of mental and emotional reshaping, growth and maturation for you.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from the guilt. I repeat, you can't hide from the ever-present feelings of self-reproach you will feel for likely well-beyond 18+ years.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from the fact that you are an impressive beast of a human being who (though maybe unrecognized by yourself) is looked upon by other people with amazement, admiration, and immense gratitude.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from the moments of the everyday ordinary that shapes and defines you and your relationships.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from the tough times that are ahead in both your marriage and parenting journey.

You can't hide mama.

You can't hide from your story.

And, really, you should own it, be proud of it and share it.

Your story is full of adventure.

Your story is full of learning.

Your story is full of lessons.

Your story is full of love.

Your story is full of life.

And your story, well, it might be like mine, and possibly I need to hear what you have to say.

Or, maybe your story is unlike my story, but perhaps I still need to hear what you have to say.

You can't hide from your life, mama, and please hear me when I say, you don't want to.

You really don't want to, and I don't want you to either.

You can't hide mama.

Your children need you.

Your spouse needs you.

You need you.

And, I need you.

You can't hide mama, and thankfully your cohort -- for whom I am a voluntary messenger -- won't let you.

#moms4moms

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