PPD

 Life has been hard lately, for no good reason. We are starting the weaning process as a precaution to keep the baby in the womb safe and I am not excited about it. I didn’t want to wean her this early, but obviously this has to happen.

The good news is she seems to be doing ok with it.

But, the lack of oxytocin from cutting out nursing sessions is definitely being felt by me and I am not handling it well. I’m being transparent with my kids and husband, but it is still one of those struggles that doesn’t feel fair to burden them with. So, I try to go through the daily motions and tick things off the to-do list so I don’t fall into the deep pit I know I could easily fall into, and sometimes I feel like I am failing. But then, God steps in and gives me an opportunity to give him the praise.

Like today when we went to the store. The baby was screaming in the cart at Walmart, so I pulled her out to hold her while T pushed the cart. An older gentleman asked me how I did it because his own daughter has an 8 month old and is struggling. And he saw me with the three girls “doing it ok.” So, I answered, “Only with the grace and strength of God.”

He seemed shocked by my answer, but said, “Well, I will pass that on to her and hope it encourages her.”

He stopped me a few aisles later and said, “it’s really great to see someone give God the credit for daily tasks. Thank you for the encouragement.”

He had no idea that I am really struggling since he caught us in a better moment. Honestly, the crying from the baby and behaviors from the big girls have been wearing me thin and I had just asked God to help me get through Walmart without yelling at anyone.

So, this older gentleman, worried about his own daughter, had no idea HIS words would be an encouragement to me. I’m grateful for the moments God opens my eyes to see that he really is my Strength and my Stronghold, and that even in my weakest moments, my honesty about Him can be an encouragement to others.

I really couldn’t do this without God’s help. Being a mom is no easy task, but it’s one I’m beyond grateful to have the opportunity to take a stab at day after day.

And remember, if you see a mom doing something right, give her the compliment you are thinking in your head. It might be exactly what she needs in that moment.