The Man in the Arena is this famous speech by Theodore Roosevelt. “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood…” -Theodore Roosevelt
I feel like as a mom, we are criticized by society. “You should be feeding your kids better.”
“You shouldn’t let your kids watch too much television.” “They should be able to count to 100 by age 3.”
But guess what?!
I’m the mom in the arena!
I’m the mom who gave my kids baths even when they were kicking and screaming as toddlers who didn’t want to take a bath and then screaming and crying because they didn’t want to get out of the bath.
I’m the mom who cooked and fed my kids EVERY DAY.
I’m the mom who took my kids to their doctor’s appointments. Who set up the appointment for the autism diagnosis. Who set up early intervention services and therapy appointments. Who attended IEP meetings. And was constantly told what was wrong with my child. How they weren’t meeting milestones. Or goals.
I’m the mom who was there when my daughter got kicked out of Speech therapy and occupational therapy because she was having too many “behaviors.”
Who feels like she was trying so hard and not meeting expectations of the world.
Who wanted to go to church or a restaurant without having meltdowns from my child.
And who the world criticizes because she’s not doing “enough.”
I’ve decided to stop listening to all the advice from “the world.”
Because I’m The Mom in the Arena.
I’m the one doing the work.
I’m the one with the sweat and blood and tears.
And I’m still here.
Putting in the good fight. For my girls.
So here’s to all the Moms in the Arena.
👏👏👏
Here’s a round of applause for waking up everyday, doing the hard job of momming (even when you don’t feel like it).
I’m proud of you. 😊