As mothers – really as women – we are continually going through transformations. Much more so than men. And I feel we benefit from it. Yes, our bodies monthly, for a large percentage of our lives, cycle through changes, but we have other changes too.
To physically become a mother, our body changes radically. Our hips, our breasts, our abdomen, our feet, everything shifts and moves, expands and retracts. When a baby comes into our lives, whether through birth or adoption, our heart grows exponentially. We don’t feel like we can love anyone more than we love this tiny being. And then they grow, and our love grows with them. If we have more children, our heart shows us just how unlimited and unconditional love can be. If older children come into our lives through marriage or other avenues, we open our hearts even more.
As our children grow and change, we have to grow and change too. We learn to be flexible and meet our children, where they are right now. A three-year-old needs something very different than a teenager. And yet they also need so much of the same. They need us to show up and accept them, listen to them, and spend time with them.
Throughout motherhood, our roles are continually transforming. And we can bring this ability to adapt to any opportunity we encounter. In the workplace, female entrepreneurship is up. The number of businesses owned by women in the U.S. rose 21% in 2019, while all businesses rose by only 9%. The flexibility of women shows in their ability to be “sidepreneurs.” These women have companies on the side that help them support their families. This group of women increased by 39% last year! And even when women are in situations where they experience challenges due to their gender, research shows that they can adapt and find alternative routes to success.
Our world today is going through big changes. We have challenges that we never saw coming, and we need the adaptability to meet them. As women and mothers, we can step up and help with this change. The world needs us. We know how to change, and we don’t have to try and be like men to do it. We need to bring our femininity and adaptability. Our future, just like motherhood, has many unknowns, but we can transform and grow and help others do it with us. We can teach our children, our sons as well as daughters, how to be innovative and creative. We can also help the men in our lives bring out their feminine sides. They can be more intuitive and creative.
Happy Mother’s Day 2020! It will be interesting to see how our world comes out of this pandemic. Let’s all work to make it a positive and beautiful transformation!