What Moms Need Most Every Day: A Little Bit of Mom Appreciation Goes a Long Way!
There’s a little secret that moms would like the rest of the world to know.
And here it is:
What moms need most every day is a little bit of mom appreciation!
Moms give and give and give… and that’s okay.
Because sacrifice and giving are expected.
But when giving out-paces replenishing, your reserves disappear, and you start feeling overwhelmed every day.
Do you know what has the best balancing effect for the level of what you give to your family every day?
A little bit of mom appreciation!
The littlest expression of mom appreciation is powerful enough to fill up a depleted reservoir.
That special look from you mate that says, “You’re rockin’ it,” makes you feel like a diva, and fall in love all over again.
A peanut-butter-and-jelly-smeared face tells you, “I love you, Mama,” and the world is alright again.
Your boss compliments you on the great job you’re doing, and you nearly fall off your chair, but you don’t.
You catch yourself, sit up straight, and feel like you own the place. Or at least your desk!
Watching your child reach a milestone is a huge opportunity to feel proud and hopefully appreciated.
You’ve invested your best to help your kids achieve something big, and the minute they say, “Thank you, Mom, for all your help,” you forget all the blood, sweat, tears, and sacrifice, that went into it.
And your momma heart is filled up!
Because when it’s lacking, or missing, life gets lopsided really fast!
But what happens when moms keep giving without replenishing their reserves?
The opposite of appreciation is entitlement.
Entitlement says, “You owe it to me.” And that’s ugly.
If our family expects us to give and sacrifice without showing appreciation… everyone is in for a bad ride!
The remedy for entitlement is gratitude.
Teaching our kids to say, “Thank you,” is gigantic.
It gives them a strong center point for developing an appreciative heart.
Even before our babies can speak, moms and dads who model appreciation for each other with loving, affirming, and supportive words, give their kids a healthy example of what appreciation looks and feels like.
Appreciation isn’t flattery.
There’s a huge disconnect when we hear words that are empty and expected.
Honest words of gratitude and appreciation are real gold!
When you’ve helped someone fulfill a need or want… their response should be appreciation.
But sometimes it’s not.
The worst feeling you have, is when you’ve done something helpful or kind for someone, and it goes unnoticed.
You feel crappy inside.
You question yourself, your motives, and your efforts.
And the worst is, you make it about you… and that is wrong!
It’s their problem for not responding to the thing you did for them.
Your motivation in doing something for someone wasn’t to hear their gratitude, right?
You did it because you loved the person, believed in the cause, or wanted to help in some way.
But to keep on giving at the sacrificial level you do… something significant has to refresh you.
Here’s the deal… feeling a little bit of mom appreciation is a need.
You need to say something, or you’ll miss the opportunity to tell someone how you want and need to be treated.
And the most significant thing you can do to ignite appreciation… is to value yourself in your daily habits.
Your actions speak louder than words so be sure to model a lifestyle of gratitude.
You need their genuine appreciation, so you don’t feel like a disposable tissue.
And don’t kid yourself by saying you don’t need a little bit of mom appreciation.
Because you’re human, and you do.
And even a little bit goes a long way!
An appreciative comment or gesture balances the give-and-receive dynamic that makes life work well.
It’s called reciprocation.
A little give and a little take, or in a simple word… balancing.
Appreciation coming from all directions helps you feel validated, supported, and fulfilled.
And it refills your reservoirs in a genuine and lasting way.
Be sure to appreciate yourself, too.
You are a one of a kind masterpiece, lovingly designed by your Creator. And for that fact alone, you need to appreciate you!
He built you with specific strengths and weaknesses, gifts and talents, purposes and passions.
Be sure to thank God daily for making you the special person you are!
And then remind yourself that you’re doing your best and be proud of all your efforts.
This little bit of self-care goes a long way in balancing the sacrificial giving you share every day.
