Mother's Day is a time of year I pause and look around at all the strong, powerful, and beautiful mothers in my life. Yes, one of them is my actual mother, but the rest are my family, friends, co-workers, and clients, many of whom I interact with as an instructor with FIT4MOM Greater NW Chicago Suburbs. I’ve been leading classes for just shy of eight years now, and through those years, I’ve had the privilege to meet countless mothers. I want each of you to know a few things this Mother’s Day.

You are so important, no matter your child’s age

Motherhood happens in stages and over time, moms silently and slowly move from one stage to the next. No matter how old your child may be, you are so important to them. Though the bottle feedings and diaper changes stop, your parenting turns into driving the sports carpool, helping finish school projects, and coaching them as they begin to make big life decisions. Be present for your kids. They really do like having you around!

You deserve to take care of yourself

Motherhood can at times feel like a 24/7 job. Take time and MAKE time to care for yourself. In a recent study, women who exercised the same amount of time as men, received more life saving benefits than men did. Moving your body can aid in lowering your stress and blood pressure and improving your mood and energy levels. Join us for a mommy-and-me Stroller Fitness class or one of our mom-only classes!

It’s okay to struggle

Motherhood is not always pretty. We might tend to believe that no one else is struggling in motherhood due to picture-perfect social media feeds. We all struggle differently. Share a hug or a kind word with another mom. Tell her she’s doing a great job. Offer to help her. If you are in need of help, ask. Our Village of moms is here to support you.

Celebrate your wins

No matter how big or small, celebrate your wins. We are all on very different journeys with very different goals. No two journeys look the same! Celebrate your wins in motherhood and your life. Share the good news with others so they can celebrate alongside you and cheer you on to the next win.

You’re pretty awesome

If there’s one thing you take away from this, it’s that you’re pretty awesome. Keep being you and caring for your kids and yourself. You’re the best mom. Sending you big hugs.