I have just a few very special mothering journeys to share with you this week, and so I hope you enjoy this lovely piece by long-time reader Adrie.  Her story is here for your parenting inspiration:

Growing Into Motherhood

Before I became a mother, I thought that I was a patient person.  Along with so many other things, I spent the first few years of my daughter’s life learning just how impatient I actually am.  Patience doesn’t just mean waiting for our child to pull on their own shoes when we really need to get somewhere.  Patience means being willing to allow our children – and perhaps most importantly, ourselves – a lot of time and space to become who we are. 

We live in the midst of a strange paradox.  Most people with skilled jobs spend years going to school, practicing specific skills, and apprenticing or interning with experienced elders before actually starting their work.  Parents are created almost instantly, and we expect ourselves (and our society expects us) to be skilled right from the start.  Continue reading →