This mama bear has so many thoughts today.

This past Tuesday was a full day today of school and work and urgent care for myself (I'm okay) and basketball practice. Then to come home and get some snuggles in before bed and business.

My little man was feeling a lot of big emotions this week and wanted me to cover him in prayer.

So that's immediately what I did. I dropped into prayer while snuggling him close. He fell asleep every time while I was in the middle of covering him, we both felt the peace immediately settle over us so much so that he fell asleep mid prayer. Goes to continue to show me just how much I am God's Girl and how my little man is a Son of YHWH.

I'm constantly reminded that I'm doing what I'm doing not only for my son but for the Glory of God. Im constantly reminded that He's got me and my little man cloaked in His Wings, that He's got us in the Palm of His Hand. In the little moments and in the big moments.

I have to say that I'm honestly proud of myself for all the things I navigate on a daily basis.

- As a single mom, the primary parent, the primary custodial parent. Every appointment, every bill, every sports practice, school, school events and meetings, helping him get his homework done, reading with him, covering him, keeping him healthy and safe, the cooking, the laundry, the emotions, navigating the disappointing moments, and everything in between. I'm the mom who knows how he likes his food cooked and even plated, who knows how to help him feel calm, I'm his safe place, I'm the one who's teaching him how to treat women and be a good, safe man in this world. I may not be a super fun mom, I may not have the latest and greatest or newest, but I'm present, I'm focused on building our future and having a safe, loving home, and I'm doing my best every single day.

- I'm the main caregiver for my grandparents

- I'm working every day with children who are gifted and hold a huge space in my heart

- AND I'm building a business as a doula and holistic coach.

- I'm also a friend, a daughter, and all the other titles I hold.

And yet I have to make the conscious choice day in and day out to take care of myself TOO.

Someone incredibly important to me and whom I love and adore and cherish very much, reminded me a couple weeks ago "only when you truly love yourself and take care of yourself is when you will truly love and pour into the people around you the way you want and strive to."

It's had me thinking ever since that reminder was spoken to me. Don't you just love those reminders that feel like a punch to the heart or a smack upside the head? Because its something you already know yet still need to hear it even if you don't want to hear it. insert eye roll, and tears, lots of tears

I have to choose every single day to pour into myself TOO.

That means eating right and fueling my body properly

That means moving my body

That means resting and getting proper sleep every night

That means taking care of my health (trust me, my body has been yelling at me for the past like 3 weeks for putting myself on the backburner and running myself into the ground)

That means having support systems in place (thank God for our chiropractor and our therapists, and all the people who are genuinely in my corner aka friends who i call my family)

That means being incredibly intentional with my time and energy especially when it comes to the people I surround myself with

That means managing my stress

That means standing in truth even if it hurts feelings

That means standing in obedience to God

I have to pour into me TOO. So then I can serve my clients and the people i care so deeply about at my best and be the best mom I can possibly be for my little man. And this is a journey I'm inviting you to join me on. I can promise you I'm not perfect, but I'm real.

I honestly hate with every fiber of my being how there is this societal pressure that women and moms are selfish for also choosing to take care of themselves. Like full stop NO. Just NO. For women and mothers (and fathers because i know i have some amazing dads who read what i put out into the interwebs) to take care of themselves, it is the most selfLESS gift we can give our children. And thats honestly how generational health begins. By us going first and leading the way, showing our children that its important to take care of ourselves, TOO.

Please know that I do not share this looking for sympathy or brownie points or whatever.

I share this for all the other mamas out there who do so much yet running herself into the ground, I see you and I am so freaking proud of you!

Just remember you deserve to be poured into, TOO. You deserve to take care of you, TOO.

How will you choose to take one step in pouring into you, TOO, Mama?