I think for me, it's been hard to connect with other moms because my experience of motherhood has not been one that I expected, and it never felt appropriate to say that. I remember one bible study I went to when I had 3 children under 3, and we were talking about having joy in afflictions--and people were naming their afflictions and I just sat there like a statue, because I kept thinking, "what if I feel like my affliction is motherhood?" I have struggled to name how difficult mothering is for me, because I also love my children so much (and turns out I actually struggle mainly with mothering young children and the big ones delight me) but I never heard anyone else talking about how hard it was. I always tried to push down the part of myself that will name struggle because it didn't seem like everyone wanted to hear it. My very dearest friends though, are the ones who name struggle with me and then also remind me of hope and joy.
This is such a helpful subject to reflect on. I would say doubts or questioning some of the things I believe have been things I have felt afraid to share because of the risk I'd be excluded
I think for me, it's been hard to connect with other moms because my experience of motherhood has not been one that I expected, and it never felt appropriate to say that. I remember one bible study I went to when I had 3 children under 3, and we were talking about having joy in afflictions--and people were naming their afflictions and I just sat there like a statue, because I kept thinking, "what if I feel like my affliction is motherhood?" I have struggled to name how difficult mothering is for me, because I also love my children so much (and turns out I actually struggle mainly with mothering young children and the big ones delight me) but I never heard anyone else talking about how hard it was. I always tried to push down the part of myself that will name struggle because it didn't seem like everyone wanted to hear it. My very dearest friends though, are the ones who name struggle with me and then also remind me of hope and joy.
Love this! Thanks, Sarah. It was such a great conversation.
This is such a helpful subject to reflect on. I would say doubts or questioning some of the things I believe have been things I have felt afraid to share because of the risk I'd be excluded