***This has been a sponsored conversation brought to you by Hefty®. As always, all opinions are my own. Happy Mother’s Day.
This Mother’s Day is a bit different for me because I have life growing inside of me. I have learned so much over the past seven months and not only has it been a lot of happiness, but it has offered me a deeper understanding into what it means to be a mother. The unconditional love, the worry that you are doing it all “right” and the strength you need to carry you through. All of that starts from day one, at least it has for me and it helped me understand the feelings on the mothers I know and love.
Mom, I get you a little better. I get that you probably still see us as little babies in your arms. I finally get the worry that you have likely carried with you all of these years! I also thank you. I thank you for your struggles; those struggles have turned into my strengths. I thank you for the love and also for some of the motherly nagging, because now I understand where it all stems from. It stems from love; deep, unconditional, unwavering love.
Starting a family has been something Cory and I have talked about for quite some time and all I have to say is, wow! What a life-changing experience. I often talk to my husband about my favorite childhood memories. From the birthday parties where my mom went full-on Jane Fonda for me and my friends followed by makeup and mani-pedis to the very first time I walked into my beautifully decorated “grown-up” bedroom. The room was mellow yellow, the bleached wood floors and furniture and full bed left me bursting with excitement and joy, and I could just tell my mom was just as happy to see me so happy!
Thirty years later, I finally understand so much more. I understand the strength it takes to raise children. The strength it takes to be a mother and I am so grateful to be surrounded by such strong role models in my mother, mother and sister-in-laws and of course my amazing friends. Friends who are kicking butt in the boardroom, friends being everything to everyone as stay-at-home mommies, friends dream chasing and everything in between. When I get to officially join the motherhood tribe in three months, I hope to take away some of the attributes of the women closest to me!
Strength:The mothers I know are the backbones of their family! They have a strength that is subtle yet has a “don’t mess with me” vibe that you know that if they get all the way from 1 to 3 and you haven’t stopped what you are doing, there’s going to be heck to pay!
They Have a Sense of Humor:Some days, life is going to be hard. Laughter is the best medicine there is and laughing with your children and your partner makes everything in life better. On some of those days where women I know want to cry, they find a way to laugh their way through and come out on the other side! And on other days, they cry until they laugh, and that is OK too!
They Show Unconditional Love: No child is perfect, but at the end of the day, they show love through the good times and bad. The moms who inspire me, try not to judge, they may get disappointed and there may be repercussions, but at the end of the day, they are always there.
They Are Real and Raw: I love my mom friends that have the strength to “keep it real”. They do not sugar coat the good or the bad. They usually discuss over a good glass of wine and when they are up to their ears in poop! They live in the “trenches” daily, but then counter with the fact that they would not have it any other way because when those babies look up at them or say “mama” or smile in a way only your baby smiles at you. For a moment, time stands still and all is right in the world.
Mom Always Knows Best: Ok, maybe not always, but there have been so many times where I would try my hardest to do something different than what my mom told me to do, just because. Then when it turns out exactly how she told me it would, I have to laugh and give in because maybe there is something to that old saying that “mom always knows best”, like in this spot from Hefty®!
Sometimes writing a blog can be so therapeutic and I have to thank Hefty®for celebrating strong moms. Most of the moms I know tackle strong messes on a daily basis and just like Hefty®Ultra Strong™trash bags, today’s moms are Ultra Strong in everything they do.
Hefty® is helping celebrate strong moms in honor of Mather’s Day by teaming up with John Cena and his mom Carol Cena. She looks like a pretty strong mom to me!
Carol seems to know a thing or two about ultra- strength, AMIRIGHT? Hefty®Ultra Strong™ trash bags offer “Hefty Hefty Hefty” strength at a low price. They’re made to resist tears and leaks, have patented ARM & HAMMER technology to block smells and the super-strong handles keep the bag where it needs to be in the can. Thank you Hefty®for allowing me to publically acknowledge the strong, beautiful, empowering mothers in my life! Happy Mother’s Day everyone.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hefty®.