viva la revolution!

So the other day a long time reader, whom I shall call Viva, posted a lovely "I feel where you are at sister mama" kind of comment on my first post ever.

Its got me thinking about mama-ness and this journey I have been on for nearly 6 years now. (Can you believe little man will be 6 soon??? SIX YEARS???)

As I type right now, just for a frame of reference, I am sitting in the semi-dark of our attic room, nursing baby to sleep, still in my nightshirt (at 1:23pm) and yes, wearing yoga pants. Not where I thought I would be at my current middling-30s age when I was say 12 or 15. Oh, the plans! I want to pat that little girl on the head. And really, she had no idea how much better it could be, would be! So much.

And all this makes me think three things.

One. First off. Am I reallly a hippie? I dont know. Sure. A new-era hippie I guess. Every mother I know has some element of this hippie-vibe though, or perhaps its just my circle of friends? We talk about the best baby carriers and learning how to can and night weaning and breast feeding toddlers and home birthing and essential oils for reducing tension headaches and making kefir and raising chickens and cloth diapering and and trying (cringing at) limiting tv time and so on and so forth.

Two. I like that this is where mothering is in my time of mothering. I like that I can be a part of this generation of mothers, I guess I am saying. Where so many many mothers are choosing to be at home, for a few years, ands its okay to do so, even with master's degrees hanging over our heads (and the corresponging loan amounts, eek!) and we get respect for it, for the most part, from other mothers around us. But we can turn to commiserate alongside these working-outside-the-home mamas about cutting teeth and cloth diapering leaks in the middle of the night and trying to find sippy cups that dont collect mold on the inside of the lid. I like being a part of this sisterhood. This generation of girls that grew up on Strawberry Shortcake and Star Wars, that watched Sally Ride rocket in to space and Laura Ingalls fight with Nelly on TV. Look at where we are today! We are the revolution.

I like us.

Also, three.  I like where I am. Oh, I know I am homeless. Who knows what is next and all that. I know I bounce around in despair about my life (I am dramatic, I cant help it.) OH PLEASE MIGHT I HAVE A BIT OF EARTH??? But, all that to say, deep down, and right now on the surface, bubbling up in me, is this very real sentiment - that I like where I am in life. I have three beautiful babies, a rather dashing husband, and to add to that and what is almost more - I like who I am becoming.

Its essential I think to keep moving, to keep discovering who you are, as a mother, a person, a friend, a soul. I am not "a mother" and therefore done with who I am to be. Right now, I am mama, but still, a mama in progress. And really, I like the journey. Oh do I ! I like who I am, in the moment (maybe not tomorrow, HA). I am crunchy. Sure. But I am multi-dimensional. I mean, we all are if we dig around a little. I am a new-era, "Reality Bites" and "Friends"-loving, and yes, dreaded and home birthing, faith inspired, home schooling, one-time around the world adventurer and now some day homesteader who once wanted to be an astronaut and now wants to be a goat-raising artistic writer person.

All rolled into one.

HA.

And I like that. Oh, I am becoming more, and oh, do I have plans and hopes. But for now, I am who I am and rather happy at the place I am at in that growth.

And that is a good thing, my sisters, a good thing. To claim it, right? Do you know what I am saying? You have to claim these moments of positivity about ones self every now and then. And then use those good vibes to keep growing and moving and stretching and hoping. There, I said "vibes," I must be a hippie. HA.

And all of this? Well, such is the stuff of life... womanhood, motherhood, sisterhood.

We are all pretty great.

So thanks Viva, for the inspiration.
Viva la sisterhood! Viva la revolution! Go us!