Selah Photography

So, I’m a mom.

I’ve been hugged and kissed daily, sacrificed the last cookie that I thought was mine, cleaned up bodily biohazards, picked boogies (that were not mine) with my bare hands, laughed so so very hard nearly every day, felt like my heart was walking around outside my own body, felt the worst hurt and the best happiness, read stories using crazy awesome voices I never thought I could muster up, danced around the living room like a crazy fool and have memorized allllll sorts of kid songs (and sometimes rock out to them when I’m by myself in the car).

And so, I’m a mama of one gorgeous child.  Our only little offspring.

At times (thankfully not too often) I’m left with something someone said about ‘only’ having one child.  Like it’s a stigma or something cruel/selfish we’re doing to her, or that I haven’t truly experienced motherhood by enjoying the ease of a single child..  And sometimes, the comments come from our daughter herself wishing that she had a baby sibling.

I mean, we intended to have more children, but enduring the trauma of losing 4 children has left me weary and quite terrified of attempting to have more children. We gave it a valiant effort, but quite literally I have raised my white flag.

But one thing I’ve learned….it’s OK. It’s OK to have one child.  You CAN feel fulfilled and completely happy raising ‘only’ one child. Quite frankly I’ve pushed aside the comments and even the thoughts coming from my own head leading me to believe that something is wrong with us if we don’t give our child a sibling.  We’ve found so much joy and have learned so much while raising our one little girl.  It feels as if God has given us the moon by giving her to us.  And we will do our darn best to raise her the best we can, with love and as many life experiences as we can give her.

I’m not knocking having more children, but it’s quite special to have just one….just as it is special to have more than one.  If you have someone that calls you ‘mom’, you are 100% completely blessed beyond measure.  It means that God has entrusted someone to you.  It means you’ll never be alone ever again…even when you’re apart…just because your heart has been filled.

No matter if you’re the mom of one, mom of adopted one(s) or mom of many, sit back and remind yourself of just how blessed you are.  Through the stresses and through the joys, through many children or one, you are BLESSED.  Notice and cherish the little moments that pass by for we can never get them back, nor can we stop our wee ones from growing and changing.  Remind yourself that every little thing will be ok.

To all you moms out there, HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!! Now go hug your little(s)!!