WONDEROAK

Each of our kids have gone through rough seasons. Ones that made us question everything about ourselves and our parenting. There was the Pterodactyl scream, the hitting and biting, the not wanting to eat any food except butter and chocolate, and the tantrums that were (are) like having our very own fire breathing dragon.

We are still riding some of those waves, and I know we will hit other waves in the future.

We’ve gotten lots of well-intentioned advice along the way. Some of it was helpful, some of it was not. I believe in the “village” and I’m grateful we aren’t on our own when it comes to parenthood, however, I’ve learned that it shouldn’t come at the cost of my self confidence.

There are a million opinions (online and otherwise) about how we could do motherhood differently, but we are still the gate keepers of that advice.

We are still the last word, and we should be, because we are the ones whose heart and soul is the most invested.

Who loves them the most? Who laid down their right to a full night sleep and an independent life? Who sacrificed their body and their dreams and their regular showers? Who takes care of them when they’re sick? Who stays awake at night thinking about them and worrying for them?

You do and you did. I do and I did.

We are the most qualified, and we always will be.

You are the best one to decide what school they go to.

You are the best one to decide what they eat and what they watch.

You are the best one to decide what boundaries and rules you have as a family.

You are the best one to decide if you do sleepovers or not and if they have phones or not.

No one knows your kids like you do. No sees all their sides and all their colors like you do. No one loves them like you do. No one has held them the way you’ve held them. No one has seen the world in their bright, round, eyes.

So get advice, but don’t let it dethrone you from your roles as Mom and Dad. There’s no one whose voice is more important than yours.

No one is as qualified to lead as the one who loves with their whole heart.

Trust yourself and trust your gut.

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JOIN THE WONDEROAK SISTERHOOD

Shop Sister I Am With You shirts here

For every 20 shirts sold, one shirt will be sent to someone in need of some sisterly support (this is done via nomination on Facebook and Instagram).

Sister, I am with you is a message of solidarity between moms and women. It says I AM FOR you no matter what.

I don’t care if your house looks like the bottom of a cereal box. I don’t care if you’re makeup is fresh or three days old. I don’t care if you smile a lot, cry a lot, or yell a lot. I don’t care if you breastfeed or bottle feed, or if you like a glass of whiskey at the end of a long day. I don’t care if motherhood fits you like a glove or like a too-tight pair of pants that ride up the nether regions. I don’t care if you house smells like lavender or dirty diapers. I don’t care if you stay at home or have a full-time job. I don’t care if you’re keto or paleo or eat a lot of frozen pizza and carrot sticks.

I AM FOR YOU. Sister, I am with you.

10% of proceeds will go to Women for Women International to support and empower women in areas of conflict and war.

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