Yesterday, a blog that I submitted to The Huffington Post was published. I screenshotted it. Yes, I did that.
A post that I wrote about pausing to find your pause button.
Published. As in online. On. The. Huffington. Post.
I immediately felt like I needed to hit the pause button and share the news with family and friends.
For the rest of the day and evening, I was completely overwhelmed by everyone's response.
You all provided me with ... pause.
Pause to bask in some of the beautiful "Likes" and "Comments" and "Shares".
Pause to look at the amazing and inspiring people that I've been collecting all of my life.
Pause to count my many blessings.
Pause to remember that you read these words I string together. More of you read than I realize.
Pause to recommit; because you read these words, I want to be mindful about telling the truth and minding the gap between my beliefs and actions.
Pause to even feel the fears of "Is it good enough?" and "What if?"
Pause to be excited about setting this intention and following through, with the fears in tow.
But oddly, yesterday afternoon when I picked up the kiddos...
I was still just Mom.
There were no balloons. There was no confetti. Not even a stinkin' parade!
I'm still just Mom.
They don't read The Huffington Post. Huffington Post? What's that? Sounds like something out of a Harry Potter book, which for the life of me I can't get them interested in. (I'm hoping they are just still too young and that there is still hope for me to relive Hogwarts adventures.)
I'm still just Mom.
They didn't notice the outpouring of "Likes" and "Comments" and "Shares" on Facebook. (Thank goodness they are still too young for Facebook. Again, hope.)
I'm still just Mom.
But. They were excited to see me and ran with open arms to greet me.
They had their own big news to share, too. Bigger news. Bigger than Huffington Post news!
X got to eat lunch in his classroom today because of the field trip to the pumpkin patch!
Y made it to the elusive and proverbial "Super" on the behavior chart today, earning her a purple smiley face in her book and a trip to the treasure box.
X had a new "Scat the Cat" book to read to us along with 18 more words to sing in the "Banana Nana Bo Bo Bana Fee Fi Mo Mana" song. (Yeah. I'm ready for this phase to be over...maybe just a little.)
Y finally got to meet with her reading group today and read the next chapter of "Shoeless Joe Jackson" which she is so excited to be learning about. Of course my references to "Field of Dreams" were completely lost on her. I will have to work on that one. Soon. She's not too young for that one.
And with their bigger news, I once again, found my pause.
Pause to remember that at the end of each day, no matter what happens...
I'm still just Mom.
I could have had the best day or the worst day.
I could have met my goals or experienced complete failure.
I could have been published or rejected.
I'm still just Mom.
There were still errands to run.
There was still dinner to make/get.
There were still baths and showers and "Brush your hair and teeth" to do and say.
There were still the seven tuck in songs, 24 hugs and kisses and countless repeated "Good Night. I love yous."
I'm still just Mom.
They love me. Unconditionally.
Just like I love them. Unconditionally.
I once heard someone say, "There is nothing you can do to make me love you less. There is nothing you can do to make me love you more."
Nothing changes.
Because I'm still just Mom.
And I love you that much.
Let's all, Go. Do that.
P.S. I did sit down with Y to show her the post online. The post with my name in the byline and the little black and white picture of me at my brother's wedding. I wanted to show her to let her know that she can do anything. Anything she sets her mind to.
Her response: "Cool."
So now, I'm still just Mom.
But maybe just a slightly cooler version of ... Mom.
Today's Challenge(s):
Pause. Again. To recognize and appreciate the amazing and beautiful people you have been collecting all of your life!
Pause. Again. To take a look around and notice your family and all of their love. Just walk up to them and hug randomly.
Pause. Again. To scroll through your facebook friends list and leave messages of kind words on the pages of folks you haven't heard from in a while.
Pause. Again. To set an intention. Name something you want to do. Enjoy the pondering about how to make that happen.
Pause. Again. To be You. Maybe even just a slightly cooler version ... of You.
Let's all, Go. Do that, too.