Here are some recent examples of what a good momma won\u2019t do:<\/p>\n
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- Let her child fail at school when the pieces aren\u2019t adding up.\u00a0 (She finds a good tutor or\u00a0helper.)<\/li>\n
- Let her child fight huge battles alone. (She digs out\u00a0and puts\u00a0on her boxing gloves.)<\/li>\n
- Let her children squirm out of consequences. (But, she is there to encourage them anyway.)<\/li>\n
- Let her children lose their imaginations. (She disconnected the cable.)<\/li>\n
- Let her child miss out on an opportunity. (She sacrifices time, energy and resources to make it happen.)<\/li>\n
- Let her baby believe something (even small) will be easy.\u00a0 (Yes, it\u2019s going to hurt, but\u00a0she will be with you every step of the way.)<\/li>\n
- Let her child think they are the only one. (She shares scars from her past.)<\/li>\n
- Let her children assume that heartbreak is a private pain to bear. (She weeps in front of them.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
I could go on and on, as I am surrounded by good mommas every day in my world.\u00a0 Generations ahead and those coming behind me have inspired me each and every day to strive to become the best momma I can be.<\/p>\n
I am travelling this weekend to North Dakota, and the main reason for that trip is what one momma won\u2019t do.\u00a0 She won\u2019t preach what she doesn\u2019t practice.\u00a0 I remember the conversation that started a long, arduous, but ultimately fulfilling, journey for her.\u00a0 Yesterday, my sister (after knowing her for 20+ years, we dropped the in-law part) walked across the stage \u00a0earning her Associates of Science Degree in Nursing.\u00a0 She awaits Board Certification, but she is an RN.\u00a0 But those capped and gowned steps didn\u2019t really show the whole story the eleven of us in the audience already\u00a0knew. A single mom of four, her footsteps started as an idea when her oldest was a freshman in high school.\u00a0 How can I preach to him to go to college when I never did? <\/i><\/b>Wow!\u00a0 I remember being blown away by her words.\u00a0 I was speechless (which I admit is rare for me).\u00a0 She went on to say that her dream had always been to be a nurse, and she had researched the local community college and found a program that fit her needs.\u00a0 I will have some tough classes.\u00a0 Will you tutor me?<\/i><\/b> Absolutely!\u00a0 My chips were all in for the biggest prize ever \u2013 helping her succeed!\u00a0 She found resources (including me, the other sisters, Grandma, her own children, community members, other students, faculty, staff,\u00a0&\u00a0the TRIO program), showing her children that sometimes it takes a village to raise a momma.\u00a0 She spent long hours, staying up past when the kids were in bed to study.\u00a0 She sacrificed in countless ways to prove to her children that she VALUES education.\u00a0 Her past three years have been a testament to will and determination as well as hard work and a few tears.<\/p>\n
So yesterday, if all those other people at the college graduation didn\u2019t see it, let me tell you what you missed \u2013 a momma who practices what she preaches strut across the stage as a college graduate.<\/p>\n
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