Top 20 Quote Pins | Community of Mothers – Before, During and After | + Getting the Good Stuff

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As I mentioned in my previous post (click here if you’d like to read it), we moved my middle child into his college dorm last month.

Let me preface this post by saying now that some time has passed that allowed me to experience all the incredibly-hard-extremely-close ugly crying thing at home in my pajamas with a gallon of ice cream, I am able to talk about this child leaving the nest.

Any my goodness has this been one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to go through. I thought I was prepared for and *knew* of the hard emotions that I would be feeling but it honestly hit me harder than I could have imaged.

At church the Sunday after we left him in Manhattan, I asked a couple mothers who are a few steps ahead of me on the road of motherhood for advice. How do I navigate the next few weeks? How do I get over feeling like my child has disappeared? And, how best can I support them while being 1.5 hours away?

These ladies were so uplifting and encouraging and shared their own stories of struggle when their children left for college. They shared how they coped with their own feelings. They also shared a prayer and several strategies they used to get through.

In speaking with these women, I found myself flashing back to when my kiddos were preschool age and I belonged to a group called MOPS – Mothers of Preschoolers.

It reminded me of times laughing/crying/encouraging/supporting mothers during pregnancies, toddler-hood, loss and grief.

I was reminded that in every step of parenthood it is crucial to find a community of other mothers. Mothers who have been where you are. Mothers who can share guidance on where you’re headed. And also for you to support mothers who are a few steps behind you.

No matter what phase of motherhood you are in there is always hope and arms wide open found through other mothers.

My hope (and uninvited advice) to you, my Friend, is that if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed/lost/confused or any other hard and heavy emotion surrounding motherhood to find a moms group/someone you can trust, and talk honestly and openly about what you are facing. I bet their reaction and response will be of support and love.

It’s now been over a month since we dropped him off at college and said our goodbyes. And though I no longer tear up when I walk by his room my heart does still feel like a boulder size piece is missing.

I don’t know if, as a mom, this is something I just should prepare to feel for the remainder of my life, or if time will ease this feeling but, if there is anything I’ve learned these past few weeks it’s this —

To love our children hard means to have hard and heavy emotions. And sometimes this means feeling these emotions ALL. THE. TIME.

One verse that has sunk deep into my heart lately – “Tonight I will sleep securely on a bed of peace because I trust You, You alone, O Eternal One, will keep me [ MY CHILDREN ] safe.” Psalm 4:8 [The Voice]

In other news, if you’ve been around these parts for any amount of time you know how much I value transparency and authenticity so if I’m being honest right now I’ll say that I have several projects around the house that have been started but not yet finished.

Part of that has to do with the stress from the past few weeks from the above mentioned event as well as weather changes. Stress is my number one trigger for the RA and Fibro flares. (See this post if you’re new here).

I was fortunate to see my rheumatologist this week who gave me a nice shot of steroids so I’m feeling like a new woman. She’s like a [steroid] drug dealer and I always feel better when she gives me a dose of her good stuff. Funny? Not funny? I really don’t know —

Now with renewed energy I’m hoping to get some projects completed, though September-December already have a packed schedule so cross your fingers that the stress levels will be kept at a minimum.

Okay, on to the most recent round of favorite pins. This round includes a majority of quotes/memes as words are resonating with the depths of my being right now. Follow me on Pinterest to see the latest recipes and pins

Also, don’t forget to check out my idea pins that are full of easy, quick step recipes – like these —

Have a wonderful week, Friends!
~JB

JB Photo and Design, LLC | Jenni Blake is based out of Leavenworth County, Kansas.  We love to capture images of people and landscape, create graphic art, bake all things in the “yummy stuff” category, as well as throw encouragement and light throughout our corner of internet land.

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