
Here’s to the mamas who sniffed the necks of their newborn babies and those who could finally stop pacing when the adoption papers came through. Here’s to the mamas who sat through endless Zoom meetings with a 2-year old on their lap and those who put on a face-shield to scan groceries at Kroger. Here’s to the mamas who planted a garden and made kombucha and those who had a half-eaten granola bar and stale Goldfish crackers for lunch. Here’s to the mamas who got up at 5am to run and those who never changed out of their jammies. Here’s to the mamas who carried on through bleeding nipples and tongue-ties and those who shook the guilt out of their bottles of Similac. Here’s to the mamas who planned Pinterest-worthy activities for rainy days and those wholeft Netflix on for 8 hours. Here’s to the mamas who meal-planned and counted carbs and to those who ordered pizza and polished off the box of Oreos in the bathroom. Here’s to the mamas who have old yogurt on their shirts and poop on their fingers and to those who pay a nanny so they can feel sane and normal for a few hours. Here’s to the mamas who find validation in posting sanctimonious greatness and those who can barely make it through the day. Here’s to the mamas who missed a first word or first step while at work and those who can’t take another minute of their child’s face by the time dad gets home. Here’s to the mamas who Instagram their toned abs and C-section scars and those who squeeze their jiggly behinds into yoga pants and pee when they laugh. Here’s to the mamas who never sleep and those who can’t make themselves get out of bed. Here’s to the mamas who chased a screaming toddler through the grocery store and those who stayed up all night waiting for their teenager to come home. Here’s to the mamas who fought like a panther to save their babies from a man and those who still need to escape. Here’s to the mamas who paid $700 for an Epi-pen to save their child’s life and those whose unemployment check forces them to choose between diapers and dinner. Here’s to the mamas who sat through four soccer games on a blustery Saturday and those who sat next to a NICU bed for four weeks. Here’s to the mamas who chose their babies over the booze or the pipe and those who haven’t yet found the strength. Here’s to the mama who feels like she’s never enough. Here’s to the mama who feels like this is all too much. You are amazing, no matter who you are. I raise my cup of lukewarm coffee to you. ©Vixen Lea 2020

Read: To Be A Woman