This little print from Lines of Grace is getting framed and hanging by the mirror in my master bathroom as a daily reminder that I’m doing my best for my kids everyday and that’s all they need.  Mommy guilt is a real thing and so much more intense than I ever imagined.

I feel guilty for not getting enough time with each baby each day.  I feel guilty for pumping all the time, but feel so guilty when I think about stopping.  I feel guilty for for keeping my babies isolated but couldn’t live with the guilt if one of them ended up back in the hospital or worse, dead.  I feel guilty for not cooking and cleaning enough.  I feel guilty for not bringing in more money to support our family.  I feel guilty hanging on to baby clothes the girls outgrown, but I feel guilty thinking about selling them.  I feel guilty not putting enough time into my business, but I feel guilty taking any more time away from the girls.  I feel guilty for decisions I made when they were in the NICU that probably ended up keeping them there longer and making it harder on all of us.  I feel guilty for not eating healthier.  I feel guilty about the way my body looks and feels because I feel like I should be doing something about it but I just don’t have the time or energy yet. I feel guilty for all the moving we’ve done in this first year of their lives.  I feel guilty for not being able to give my dog the attention he needs.  I feel guilty for not being able to help Alvin more with everything he has on his plate.  I feel guilty when one baby is crying and I can’t do anything because I’m dealing with one of her sisters.  Even worse is when 2 or all 3 are crying and I feel like I can’t do anything.  It just seems like no matter what I do, I feel guilty somehow and constantly feel like I’m failing everybody.  I hear people refer to me as “SuperMom” for taking care of three babies without outside help but I don’t feel like a super mom most days.  I’ll tell you want though, I could not do this without the amazing husband I have.  He’s a huge help and so very wonderful and sweet with the girls.  I hate to even ask him for help because he’s doing so much for our family but when I do ask, he doesn’t hesitate to jump right in.  Even when I don’t ask, he often jumps right in haha.  

Melissa Lyon West has such an amazing story for creating Lines of Grace to give her the strength and motivation she needs to fight every day as a  Christian and mother battling Lymes Disease.  Talk about a STRONG mama!!!  I just love her heart and what she’s doing with the little business of hers.  As if her motivation is not enough reason to start and run this business, she also donates a portion of the proceeds to a friend who adopted a baby with large adoption and medical expenses.  She sell different hand drawn prints, digital downloads, and she has a runs The Happy Mail Society where you can sign up for a monthly subscription of either a print in the mail or digital downloads.   Here’s a little bit about The Happy Mail Society from Melissa herself:

What an amazing gift to give yourself or someone special in your life (hint, hint, hubbies out there!).  Melissa has been so kind as to give us a free month to try it out too!  You can sign up here.  And did I mention Melissa and her family live in a remodeled RV and travel around…. how cool is that!!  You can get a tour of their RV home on her blog ;)

And just because I can’t leave you without some photos of my girls!  Polka dot head wraps from Guguberry.  “Nice Girls Sparkle” tees from Lola and Darla.  Gold headbands with Black & White stripe bows from Arrow and Lace Designs. Moccasins are Freshly Picked in Merci from their new fall line.