Social media and the internet as a whole have made a whole new level of solidarity possible within the realm of parenting. I wrote an article some time ago about how social media has made the ever-needed “village” MORE available to parents than ever before, and I have found this to be even more evident as my family grows and my parenting experience increases.
I am now the mother of three children, working on getting #4 “in the oven.” I have more than three (combined) years of breastfeeding experience, four years of babywearing knowledge, and two years of potty training stories. My husband and I have become “those parents” who jokingly inform parents-to-be of the joys and struggles they are about to encounter. We have resigned ourselves to messes, diapers, early mornings, and the changing moods that come with a variety of ages and personalities. This IS what we signed up for by having kids, after all.
That growing knowledge does not mean that we never have questions. We still hit new stages with our kids and sit back shaking our heads and wondering if everything that is going on is normal. Between the two of us we have many years of babysitting and nannying and even daycare experience, but the 24/7 reality of raising our own children has been quite obviously different. Prioritizing, scheduling, and compromising have becoming essential to our survival.
This morning, I found myself typing a phrase that has been written to me many times over the years, “Keep up the good work, mama.” I didn’t know the woman, other than by her story in a Facebook group, but I could relate to her and encourage her choices and stand in solidarity with her journey into motherhood, as I stand with other parents in their own parenting journeys. Sometimes those few words of understanding have gotten me through the day after a sleepless night, or made me feel less guilty about feeding my children ridiculous amounts of toaster waffles, or helped me to put aside my anxieties and get out of the house.
Certainly, I am a woman and wife outside of my role as “mama”, but receiving encouragement specifically related to the all-encompassing realm of motherhood has been and still is vital to my development as a parent. My husband may not comprehend all of my insecurities, but I know that if I vent to some of my “internet friends” I will receive insight and words of encouragement, or even a gently worded reality check. I choose to surround myself with a community of parents that do not involve themselves in the “mommy wars” and I choose to use my voice in an uplifting way.
So, mamas of the world, keep up the good work. You’ve got this.
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