To the already Moms,

You might be new at this, or a seasoned veteran. Children might have been a surprise to you, or a well planned out gift. You may have adopted yours, or given yours up for a better home. You might have decided not to have yours at all.

For one reason or another, you’ve been chosen to take on the job as “mom,” and I envy you. I don’t know your story. I don’t know your family, your trials, your failures. I don’t know your motivation for being a parent, though I don’t think really any are wrong.

I know that the truth is, some days being a mom doesn’t feel like a blessing. Some days your children push you to the end of your rope. Some days you don’t know if you’ll make it through. And while I envy your struggles, I also know I will face them some day too.

So with every spilled glass, every orphaned sock, every stained shirt (yours and theirs), every tantrum, every spanking, every two-cups of coffee mornings, every  eye-roll, never let the stresses, inconveniences, and frustrations blind you from the incredible opportunity you’ve been given.

I don’t know how hard it is to raise a child. I know it’s probably harder than anything I’ll ever do. But I don’t think it could possibly be more difficult than not having that slobbery, winey, and, sometimes, obnoxious little human.

For every moment you want to give up, and every day you’ve felt defeated, know that there is someone out there who would trade anything for your lap full of spaghetti, your mess of a house, your bloodshot eyes, your untamed hair, your high schooler’s drama. This isn’t to say that your job is one you should love every second of every day. Not at all. Kids suck. I know that; I was one of them once. This is to say that even though you have the most unappreciated, thankless job in the world, someone wishes they were you.

From an almost mom to an already mom, know your not-so-picture-perfect life is one that I want terribly. I hope you all of the strength you need to take on this incredibly difficult task of raising another person. Give yourself grace, and give your children grace–even when you don’t feel that either of you deserve it.