No Regrets.                                    

I managed to shower today! It was a quick shower (translation: no washing hair, in and out, never ending line of kids and dogs in and out of bathroom asking about breakfast, tv shows and where is my teddy?) Nevertheless, I showered. I see that as my first major accomplishment today. Its going to be a great day moms!

So, my point in all this is, while in the shower I got to thinking. It was a quick 30 second thought and in it was a snapshot of my life. Along with that came all the "what if's". We all play that game some times. Its a dangerous slippery slope that can quickly lead to doubts of self worth and self accomplishment. It causes us to wonder what our lives would have been had we.....
Now, just as a disclaimer - I am not talking about our kiddos. I have never wondered what my life would be like without them. I already know - empty. However, I do sometimes wonder if things would be different if I had done a certain thing, or not done a certain thing. Don't we all?

"What if I played a certain sport as a kid?"
"What if I did better in school?"
"What if I went to that collage, or to college at all?"
"What if I finished college and actually used the degree I thought I wanted?"
"What if I took that job, or went on that trip?"
"What if I stayed in that job, or got promoted?"
"What if......"

So as my thoughts reeled from all my what if's I realized in that split second that I needed to stop. I am exactly where I was intended to be. My life's path, my choices, my experiences all lead me to where I am right now.

Moms, we are HERE. We are the most important person in our child's life. We are the exact mom that our children need. And, guess what?  Our paths, the road we did take, shaped us.

What are you going through right now? Trips to the doctors, trips to Children's Hospitals, specialists, IEP's, behavior issues, therapists, bullies, learning difficulties, teenage drama, pregnancy, newborns, difficult stages, sleepless nights, etc.

 Each child has his or her own exact needs and guess what mom?! He or she was meant for YOU. You are precisely where you are meant to be. You have been chosen to be your little one's best advocate. Support system. Champion. Your road in life has brought you here. Your little ones need you - right here, right now.

So, while it is tempting to look back and wonder - "what if" - do not let that cloud your mind or heart. There is always the future. You can still finish that degree - you can still travel or start working out or pick up a sport. We are young and full of energy! (okay - so I'm a jokester, its still early!) But, seriously, we still have our whole lives ahead of us - our babies need us for just a short while (though its hard to see that in the thick of it). For now mom - take joy in the fact that the road you traveled brought you here. Here to be mom to these amazing little blessings and to help shape their road through life. You have what it takes to walk your child down their difficult paths - you are exactly who you need to be and where you need to be. Don't ever doubt that. Enjoy today mom - right where you are.