Dear Mom,

“Wow, you sure do have your hands full” a stranger says as they walk by. It always feels a little sharp, not quite a compliment.

But what they really mean when they tell you you must have your hands full is:

You have EVERYTHING. Right here.

In your lap, in your arms, tugging on your pants leg.

This is the hardest thing you will ever do. It’s the best thing you’ll ever do. This is what you waited and dreamed and hoped and prayed your entire life to get to do. The mundane and routine made fantastical by little giggles and smiles. The everyday moments sprinkled with fireworks of excitement and delight.

You have created life from nothing – you create love, you create safety, you create boundaries, you create fun. Every. Single. Day. Now you will give them an unforgettable life and in the process give yourself the most indescribable love possible.

So, it’s okay if “you really have your hands full, don’t you?” Because your heart is full too.