Words with Moms

When I brought back words with moms I was so excited for the potential it could have. My excitement quickly turned into fear. Fear of success. I know that words with moms could be so big, bigger than I can even imagine. I know that there are so many tools I can use to grow words with moms, and I am afraid to use them. Fear has always been my biggest enemy, it debilitates me. For the last few months I have had so many fears that distinguished my excitement for words with moms and completely debilitated me from posting any more. But here’s the thing, I’ve been sitting with those fears, and it’s helped me understand them a little more and I’ve let them tell me how to help them. Fear for me is a tangible thing, almost like a friend who sits with me and desperately needs to be listened to. I’m learning to listen to her. She’s never tried to hurt me, she’s an overbearing protector. I can’t fault her for that. She’s never been my enemy at all and instead of feeling like she is, I’ve sat with her and listened. This is what she has presented to me and how we are working together to mend her.

If words with moms gets too big, that’s scary and demanding. 

The very first thing I tell her is that’s what I want. I want it to be big, I want to show mothers all over that they are not alone. I want to do the work words with moms demands to grow. I want to do it, so I will. It really is that simple. If you want it, do it.

What if I upset or offend somebody?

I fear this because I am a people pleaser. I never want to upset or offend anyone. The answer to this is simple as well, I cannot please everyone. I just can’t and nobody in the world can. I have to face this and that is a work in progress. As I work through this, I know that it will be easier to accept, I just have to start.

I might overload myself and make things so difficult. I don’t know how to handle that.

I tend to do this with everything I do. I start big and get overwhelmed. Small bricks make a huge impact. I did this with words with moms and I am ready to tweak what I need so I can handle everything when demand gets louder. For example, I was working for HOURS on the perfect cover photo art. Going forward I will choose simplicity, a clean banner with the title of the story and the author. I know I’ll always be able to do that, whereas creating the photo art is not something I can personally sustain. That’s ok.

People might scoff at my words. I have to be sure every word and the grammar is perfect to avoid embarrassment.

Hello people pleasing. Words with moms is supposed to show mothers they are not alone. Why should I shoot for perfection? That would completely miss the point of this platform. Words with moms will now act as an open journal, all flaws welcome, for all mothers…including myself.

These are just some of the things fear has given me, I am proud of myself for looking them in the eye, finding the root, and looking for the solution. I am not perfect, no mother or woman is. I will go forward with love and grace for myself. I pray that invites more mothers to do the same and join me. I am ready.