There are seasons of life that thankfulness abounds and seasons in which it is a hard won choice. Life is messy. We don’t always have control over every circumstance of our day – sometimes our very lives seem wildly out of reach – but we can choose how we’ll respond.

Often all it takes is a little perspective to choose to respond well.

Mothering is hard.

No matter who you are, where you live, or how much money you have. It doesn’t matter if you work from home, out of the home, or not at all. Even if you have help. Especially if you don’t.

Mothering is rough stuff. Tough-as-nails kind of work.

It is beautiful for sure. And rewarding. And the best kind of thing to do with our days. But that doesn’t take away the overwhelming moments, the sleepless nights, the worry we’re getting it all wrong – because we so desperately want to get it right.

In this season we’re in, we try to be mindful of the blessings we have.

There are many. Some are so basic, so obvious . . . but what if we tried to find the thankfulness in the hard parts of mothering?

When we can’t find a minute to ourselves.

When we can hardly see straight out of exhaustion, or frustration, or both.

When we feel spent and worn-through.

When we wish something, anything, would just be easy today.

What if we stopped to choose thankfulness in those moments? 

I think it would do more than change our perspective. It might just change reality – for us and our kids.

Here’s where we live, and where I’m choosing thankfulness . . .

For the dishes in the sink that remind me of the food we have to eat and the friends and family who brought it to us.

For the floor that’s still not been cleaned because our home is well lived in and well loved.

For the fussy baby because I have been blessed to conceive, and carry, and deliver – not once, but three times.

For the exuberance and energy of my boys because they are happy, and healthy, and all mine.

For the moments that carry with them differing opinions because it means I have someone to love and do life with.

For the to-do list that always seems longer than the hours in my day because it means I am needed and I have purpose.

Mothering is hard.

But we can choose thankfulness anyway.