“Is there anything you’d like to say to encourage struggling moms?”
I sat, taken aback by the podcast interview question by Focus on the Family @thrivingfamilysg
I looked out the window, at the raging frenzy of snow- and had my answer. ❄️
“A large part of early motherhood is like winter. It’s hard, dreary, and very lonely. But what I’ve learnt is this- winter is the time trees deepen their roots. Because it’s dry, roots drive themselves deeper to search for water. And its the deepening that strengthens their growth in spring.”🌱
It hit me that for many of us, both winter and motherhood are painted romantically.🌨️
But the truth is- a large part of winter and early #motherhood is made of drudgery and dread.
“Both times when I struggled with postpartum/antepartum depression, it was winter. And I learnt, that it’s easy to shame ourselves for not bearing visible fruit.
But like winter, that part of motherhood is a season. No one scolds a tree for not bearing fruit in winter- so why should we?”🌴
As I shared, the interviewers confessed they were tearing up.
“Life is lived in seasons, and we have to be gentle with ourselves in winter. Surrendering our dreams, crucifying our wants- is the hardest work of motherhood.
I might seem like I’m in fruitful season of life now… but it was borne from a season of winter, of deep pain and soul searching… it is in winter that we refine our identities and truly reclaim who we are.”
If you’re reading this and wondering how an entire year has gone by without you achieving what you set out to do- remember this: life is not a performance. It’s not a race in a calendar year.
At the right season, you’ll bear fruit for a multitude you could never imagine.
So, don’t give up on yourself. Dig deep in winter. Cheering you on 💛