Written by Steady Mom contributor Hillary of infinitely learning
When Jamie started Steady Mom just over two years ago I was instantly intrigued.
Professional motherhood?
It was a foreign concept, and yet something resonated with me.
Motherhood is a journey of self-discovery, humility, confidence building and self-trust. But you don't start there. You start at square one--the novice mother.
You then go on to experience baby boot camp filled with sleep-deprivation, worry and self-doubt. Those sweet little babes break us down and we wonder how in the world are we going to do this?
You keep going because your baby needs you and somewhere along the way you get the hang of it. This doesn't mean you have all the answers, but you've gained confidence in your ability to find those answers.
You've become a professional mother.
Taking ownership of your professionalism helps you:
- Build confidence and deepens your sense of self-respect.
- Trust your mothering instincts, allowing you to make better decisions for your family.
- Ask for help when you need it and say no when you are over-extended.
When I think of it, I am reminded of my own journey as a professional businesswoman.
We own a small, local family business. My husband is a stone artisan who designs and installs stonescapes; I run the office end of the business. I also own a local birth services business and have recently expanded to include web consultations for small businesses and non-profit organizations.
Even though we'd been supporting ourselves financially as business owners, I struggled with identifying myself as a professional. Since I wasn't wearing a suit, didn't have a boss or a fancy job title I didn't feel like a professional.
The truth is I wasn't taking myself seriously or valuing my own work. I was terrified that someone would ask for my degree or official credentials. It wasn't until I started taking myself seriously as a business professional that I began to earn the respect from my peers and community.
I didn't need to prove myself to anyone. I was already doing it--running a business and providing for my family. I became a professional when I started acting like one.
When Jamie attached the word professional to motherhood a lightbulb went off. If I took myself seriously as a professional mother, I would indeed become the professional my family needed.
And just like my business, I didn't need an outside parenting expert (or my mother or my friends) to declare me a professional mother. I just needed to validate for myself that I am the professional my family needs.
We are the professionals our families need.
We're doing it--mothering every day. We are creative problem solvers, strategic planners, health care practitioners, professional organizers and effective managers.
Sometimes we make mistakes and we learn from them. That's part of being a professional, too.
Jamie and the other Steady Mom contributors have created a lot of valuable content over the past two years, but no matter what inspiration hits my blog reader it's still these two simple words that continue to inspire and rock my world:
Professional Motherhood.
*Do you feel like you've become a professional mother? Why or why not?*
Hillary and her family of five seek to learn authentically while developing an entrepreneurial lifestyle. She writes about mindful family living, diy sustainability, and the new American dream on her blog, infinitely learning.
