A couple of years ago, if you were to ask me what I thought my biggest accomplishment would be, I’d have listed a whole bunch of career goals that I was sure would fulfill me. Oh, how wrong I was. If I only knew.
I thought money, a good career, and traveling were the only things that would make me feel like an accomplished woman. That was my definition of success. I was so blind to the fact that doing all of those things never made me truly happy.
But, still, I worked hard to achieve them. And one by one, my goals were becoming my reality. I thought, “If I do this one more thing, I’ll be happier,” but there was always something missing. There was a hole in my heart that I couldn’t fill, no matter how hard I worked.
That was until I felt you in my arms. You were so small, so pure and innocent. As you breathed your first breaths, my stars aligned.
That’s when it dawned on me: You’re my biggest accomplishment. Nothing in the world could compare to the moment you first looked at me, and I felt that hole in my heart finally disappear.
With each day, I became more sure of one thing: No matter what I do in this lifetime, nothing could ever feel as good as being your mom. No amount of money or career achievements could come even close to the feeling I get when I’m with you.
When I get to hold you, kiss you, play with you. When I hear your sweet voice call me “mommy,” or when you run to me for protection. Those things have become my biggest rewards.
Not money, not raises, not certifications. Simply you. Your head on my chest, your first words. The way you smile at me, the way you run around our backyard, and the way your body softens when you fall asleep in my arms. These things have become my fuel.
They give me all the strength, motivation, and encouragement I need. I want to be good for you. I want to make you feel safe, protected, and loved. I want to give you the life you deserve, and I’ll do everything in my power to make that happen.
And you know what? I no longer care about what people say or think about me. They can love me or hate me. They can praise me or think I’m a failure. I don’t care.
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Do you know why? Because I know what the most important person in this world thinks of me, and that’s the only thing that matters. You see me as your strength, your protector, your guide, and your best friend. Most importantly, you see me as your mom, and that’s the best role I’ve ever had.
Whatever I do, I do it to make you proud. To set a good example for you, and to make you the happiest child in the world. Other people’s opinions simply bounce off me.
They could throw sticks and stones at me, but I know that, at the end of the day, I’ll have you to hold, you to take care of, and you to be proud of. These are the only things that matter to me.
All those things that used to occupy my mind seem so silly now. So insignificant compared to the life I’m living now. When I first found out that you were growing under my heart, my whole life changed.
There were new things that became my priority. Career and money seemed nothing more than tools for me to create a good life for you. I knew, right there and then, that there wouldn’t be a bigger accomplishment for me than becoming your mom.
You may think that made me sad, or that I completely ignored all my dreams and goals simply because I have you to take care of, but you couldn’t be more wrong. Once I held you in my arms, I realized that I never felt more at peace.
At that moment, I finally felt like I belonged. Like I was finally myself. I felt accomplished, fulfilled, and at ease knowing that I was living the life I could never have imagined.
There will be moments when I’ll be happy about my other achievements, of course. I’ll celebrate my small wins that may seem big to other people. But, for me, none of them will ever come close to being your mother. I want you to remember that.
I’ll be proud of those things and happy that I’m achieving some goals that I imagined for myself even before you. Only this time, my motivation is entirely different.
I want to be the best possible example for you. I’ll always be proud of you, but I want you to be proud of me, too. I want to be your role model and teach you that you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
No amount of money can buy me the happiness that takes over me when I feel your arms around me. I know I sometimes look like I’m angry or sad, but just know that these fleeting emotions never mean that I don’t love you.
My love for you will never change, no matter what happens. I won’t lie to you, being a mom isn’t always easy, but it’s the most beautiful experience I’ve ever had. Sure, I get tired, frustrated, and angry sometimes, but it’s never your fault.
Because, in the end, I get you to show me that it’s all worth it. I look at you and I know that I’m doing the right thing. Even if everything else in my life falls apart, I’ll be happy knowing that you were and always will be my biggest accomplishment.
Nothing will ever change that, and I’ll never be able to express my gratitude to you for blessing me with this beautiful life both of us share. You’ll always be my number one.
