Who inspires you?

In honor of Mother’s Day and inspired by the #doveinspire campaign that I saw on Twitter last Friday night, I am spending part of my Mother’s Day weekend writing to some of the wonderful women in my life who have inspired me and made me the woman that I am today.  I wanted to write letters on my blog to each of these women, but then I realized that their story is not my story to tell. 

I instead am writing letters to each and every one of them who has touched my life in some way. 

Thank you Mom for bringing me into this word after 36 hours of labor.  You have stood by and supported me through everything. 

Thank you to my beautiful and talented sister, AM, who is handling two kids as a SAHM like a champ. 

Thank you to my lovely mother-in-law, K, who was my friend first before I met my husband.  Thank you for accepting me as part of your family.

Thank you to my sister-in-law, L who is beautiful inside and out.  Your support throughout this past year has been invaluable. 

Thank you to my godmother.  You were my second mother when I needed it most fresh out of college.

Thank you to the godmothers of my two girls, K and A.  You both are so kind and such gracious hostesses.  You both were my lifelines a year ago when I was at my lowest point.

Thank you to my elementary school teacher, Mrs. B.  You instilled in me a love of writing and reading that continues to this day.  I never expressed my appreciation adequately.

Thank you to my elementary music teacher, Mrs. C.  You instilled in me an appreciation and a deeper love of music.

Thank you to Mrs. K, my theater director.  You took many chances on me and helped me dig deep into my passion for theater.  Your faith in me instilled confidence in my abilities.

Thank you to Dr. P. for believing in me and planting the seed in my mind to have a double major.  I did not realize how much I enjoyed Spanish and how I excelled at it.  My experience in Spain was life changing.  Thank you for inspiring me to take risks.

A special thank you goes to Katherine Stone, Yael Saar, Lauren Hale, Robin Farr, my therapist, and the ladies of #ppdchat for helping me navigate this rocky transition to mothering two children.  I was completely unprepared for how debilitating postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety could be.  You inspired me daily with your reassurances that it would be get better and that I would heal.

I know now that I am enough.  I have faith and confidence in my ability as a mom.  I am the mom that I need to be for my two girls. 

If you are reading this, know that you are enough.  You are exactly the mom that your children need.  No one else can replace you. You are unique. 

Come join me and tell me who inspires you.  Have you told them lately? I am writing because I am more expressive in writing than in general conversation.  Plus I would end up with the ugly cry every time.

***Edited to add two more women to my list.  I realized that I had forgotten them on the drive home. ***

I forgot two more wonderful, strong women, C and K, my first two female bosses that were also mentors.  Thank you C for showing me how to be a leader.  K, thank you so much for giving me the strength to stand up for my convictions and assert myself in a mostly all male department.