Dear Sister… my friend, my soul sister, I have a few things I have been meaning to tell you and I never have the right words or time  (or the kids interrupt); so let me tell you here. A few things:

You are seen. You are so very seen. How you get up every morning (even on the days you don’t want to, (especially on those days).  You put on your best face and you lift yourself and your children up with grace and dignity.  You are seen. When the morning is chaos and no one can find a thing, no one wants to listen or function like humans, you still manage to get everyone and everything together to show up for them and yourself to keep moving forward.  You are seen. You are seen for the magnificent and magical ways you are able to get yourself and your household out the door every day. You are a God damn warrior every morning before 8 am. A fucking force.

You are seen. You are seen in the ways you take deep breaths and pauses to clear your heart and mind so that you can show up authentic and true for your children. I see how you disconnect from your own hurts and struggles to focus solely on them and I applaud you for having their hearts and minds always putting their wellbeing first. It is so imspiring and brilliant to watch a mother raise children heart led. You are seen.

You are seen when the days are too hard, the noise is too loud and everything is going wrong. When no one wants to listen and all you are trying to do is survive until bedtime. You are seen. This is your gentle reminder that everyone loses their shit, it’s the recovery that matters. And you do that beautifully. We all struggle and we all yell.  Not all of us apologize and treat our little ones with the thoughtfulness and the “I’m sorries” that truly matter. You are seen and you are the most beautiful in these moments.

You are also seen as a person aside from all of these things that motherhood is. The warrior that has overcome multiple heartbreaking relationships that would have killed lesser people. The woman that refuses to quit when the warm depths of depression’s hell beckons you. The woman that continues to show up for herself when anxiety convinces you that you are dying, not good enough and never will be. You are seen in these moments and I am here to remind you that it is okay to rest, it is okay to feel and that I know you will be okay even when your will to fight seems to be fleeting.

You are seen as the strong, beautiful and fragile woman you are. The one that has overcome years of trauma she doesn’t mention, that holds shame and guilt for other’s trespasses. You are seen and loved for the absolute magnificent and beautiful person you are and all of you is welcome here. Every single part of you.

You are so very loved.