Women Express What Being A Mother Means

I love Mother’s Day, and every year we celebrate and do something fun. But honestly, I feel the privilege of being a mother every day of the year. I don’t think there is a day that goes by that I don’t feel immense gratitude for the two best gifts I have ever received in life–my son and my daughter. In honor of Mother’s Day, (which is next Sunday) I asked several moms I know what being a mother means to them, and compiled their responses for my Love Essentially column, (published in the Chicago Tribune Pioneer Press and several other newspapers across the country.) Here is the column:

What Does Being a Mother Mean To You?

by Jackie Pilossoph for Chicago Tribune Media Group

It’s been 17 years, but I still vividly remember how I felt the first time I held my newborn son in my arms.

My first thought might have been, “I can’t believe I actually gave birth to an almost 11 pounder,” but I also was instantly in love.

My new baby’s chubby cheeks and angelic soul warmed my heart and gave me a joy I’d never experienced.

But I was also terrified. From the moment I saw him, I knew his life and well-being were completely dependent on me (And, unfortunately, my mother was only staying with us for a week.)

From day one, maternal worrying began.

How was I going to learn how to change a diaper?

How could I get the baby to stop crying?

When will his umbilical cord fall off?

And how the heck was I going to get back into my pre-pregnancy jeans?

Fast forward to today. I’m a mom of two teenagers and I wish I had the same worries I had back then. With the exception of the jeans thing, they were comparatively a piece of cake. Worrying goes hand in hand with motherhood, and can be exhausting and overwhelming at times. But the privilege of being a mom trumps all of that.

The gift of motherhood is by far the most special that God has given me. Being a mom means…

Click here to read the rest of the article, published in the Chicago Tribune Pioneer Press and several other newspapers across the country.

Like this article? Check out, “Advice For The Single Mom: Handle It”

Editor-in-chief: Jackie Pilossoph

Jackie Pilossoph is the Founder of Divorced Girl Smiling, the media company that connects people facing with divorce to trusted, vetted divorce professionals. Pilossoph is a former NBC affiliate television journalist and Chicago Tribune/Pioneer Press features reporter. Her syndicated column, Love Essentially was published in the Chicago Tribune/Pioneer Press and Tribune owned publications for 7 1/2 years. Pilossoph holds a Masters degree in journalism from Boston University. Learn more at: DivorcedGirlSmiling.com