Loving these four funny, incredibly smart, beautiful, but not always what the world calls “well-behaved” is a special kind of love. And I mean SPECIAL!
The love I have for them runs deep and grows stronger, every day, not in spite of their “quirks”, but because of them.
It’s a love that sees past what others might judge — It’s a love that appreciates their sarcastic energy, their sharp wit, their love of REAL, their disinterest in the “look at me” epidemic driven by social media — My children have minds of their own, hearts full of the love of God, and a confidence that doesn’t need like or clicks to feel validated. My children have a sense of self that won’t be dimmed just to make others comfortable.
I love them not because they’re perfect, but because they’re real. I see how they care for the weak when no one’s looking, how they stand up when it matters, how they make me laugh in moments where I just wanted to cry. I see the battles they fight — some on the outside, others quietly within — and I admire their resilience, their honesty, their ability to feel and to love deeply.
They may test my patience, they may break a rule (or ten), but they never fail to show up with love and loyalty, to me, their Dad and each other when it matters most. My love for them isn’t conditional on how they perform in public or how well they follow someone else’s script. It’s rooted in who they are and who they are becoming. In a world where social media is giving young people a false sense of affirmation and acceptance, I am SO proud my children know their worth – and it has nothing to do with followers, likes or clicks.
My love for them is a fierce love. A protective love. A love that says “You don’t have to be perfect to be worthy — you’re already more than enough.”
In a world that often tries to smooth out the edges and have you conform. I hope my love always tells my children it’s okay to stand for what you believe, it’s okay to buck the system, it’s okay to be a little wild — because wild things grow strong, and strong things change the world.
I love these four and I am so proud they call me Mama.