Great Things Are What Moms Do Every Day

We were all made for great things, but those great things don’t always—and maybe even rarely—look like what the world says they do.

I think maybe the great things are the things where you go against your instinct to serve yourself and instead serve others—even if those others are primarily the people in your household.

Great things are first-thing-in-the-morning baths and laundry because your kid wet the bed again—even when your brain is still foggy and your body not yet awake.

Great things are deep breaths and a calm voice instead of yelling—even when you REALLY want to, need to even—when your kid disobeys you AGAIN or lies or argues or stuffs chip bags and candy wrappers into the couch cushions, or any of the other millions of things that kids do to sever your final nerve. (I’m not saying I never yell because I DO. But when I don’t and I want to, it feels GOOD.)

Great things are dishes and dinner and laundry over and over and over, every single day, when no one seems to notice and thank-yous are in short supply.

Great things are dropping what you’re doing at a moments notice or canceling looked-forward-to plans because someone is sick or hurt or struggling or just needs your help.

Great things are rising above pettiness when you want to stay there and apologizing when you’re wrong (you know, like when you blame your kid or husband for something only to realize that YOU’RE the one at fault.)

Great things are asking what they need and providing for it, even when your needs are great too.

Great things are the things that no one sees, no one notices, but that need to be done—and that’s what makes them great. The lack of fanfare. The not getting anything in return.

Great things are what moms do every day. Never perfectly. Rarely without mistakes. Not always with a stellar attitude (okay, a lot of times without a stellar attitude—I’m working on it.) But done out of both love and necessity—even, and perhaps especially, when you don’t want to.