Change

I don't know too many moms who don't feel guilty about how they are mothering. The problem is, we do make mistakes. It's hard to get over that and feel like you haven't completely destroyed your child's life. It starts as early as pregnancy. Am I eating right? I can't quit smoking. Should I exercise? Am I exercising too much? It just goes on...should I get an epidural? milk or formula? How do I discipline a screaming 4 year old? Is is right to keep my teenager locked up in her room:)? We all have to go through some big decisions. Yet I find hope in the fact that even if I make mistakes, I can change. That while I must face bad decisions have previously made, I can improve.

There is an amazing thing to me about the infants circulation. In utero, the circulation to the lungs is mainly bypassed. There is no need for the lungs to oxygenate the body at this time. There are ducts and holes in the heart to make this possible. After birth the pressures of the birthing process and the first breath of air, change all that. It literally is quite a miracle to me how the circulation then changes to begin the process of oxygenating the body away from the mother. That the pressures and change in environment and bring about such great changes in the baby serves as a teaching point for me. Just as a baby is born with the necessary functions needed to change their heart. So are we.

Improvement and change is at the core of who we are as human beings. As mothers we need to recognize this. Remember the amazing process we went through at birth and that we can continue that same process. Mistakes will be made, but they need not hinder us from improving ourselves as women and mothers.