Reconnecting with the Courage of Parenting

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Jockey for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

I spent a couple hours this morning having tea with a fellow mama friend.  A not much older but definitely much wiser mama friend whom I admire greatly.

She and I talked mostly about parenting, as it’s the typical subject for which I seek her advice.  She listened so intently and empathetically to all of my struggles.  My stories of 4-year-old resistance and 7-year-old attitude and 9-year-old anxiety and mommy meltdowns.  And she gently shared her carefully-pruned parenting philosophy.

I found my head bobbing in agreement as I listened.

“That.

That’s what works when I’ve done it.

That’s what we need more of.

That’s what my kids need.“

Then, I started to realize the reason I rarely implement that parenting style.  FEAR.  My own fear talking me right out of it.

“But that’s not what the ‘experts’ and blogs are saying right now.

And will I be able to follow through with it consistently?

What would the moms at the playground think?

How would the kids handle the change?

Will my kids still love me?”

And now I see…  It takes COURAGE to parent.  

It takes courage to cut through the overgrowth of parenting advice blocking our path both online and off.  It takes courage to get quiet and listen to what feels right inside.  It takes courage and perseverance to follow your mama gut.  And keep following it over and over day after day.

I don’t always leave these chats agreeing with all of my friend’s advice.  But I do always leave feeling more understood, more loved, and more brave. 

So when I settled into my work at home, I found it quite fitting in a funny way.  The popular undergarment brand, Jockey, has invited me to celebrate my authentic self and how I exemplify courage, perseverance, and/or family.

I’m so thankful for my mama friend and her tea time this morning.  For listening and sharing and helping me find my authentic mama self again.  And for reminding me how courageous I already am as a mom and how courageous I need to continue to be for my kids.

And I’m thankful, too, for companies like Jockey.  Who are being courageous enough to move beyond typical superficial undergarment marketing and move toward a celebration of the complete person instead.

I am a courageous mama.  

Who are you?  I know you’re so much more than the mom we see on the outside.  Who are you really?  Create your own captioned photo using the Jockey Showem Meme Generator here and share with the world to #ShowEm what’s underneath!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Jockey for IZEA.  All opinions are 100% mine.  Please see my disclosure policy.