Motherhood taught me to stop shrinking

 Motherhood taught me to stop shrinking just to make others more comfortable.

I used to hide the mess, the meltdowns, the parts of me that didn’t look “put together.” I quieted my voice so I wouldn’t seem too opinionated. I smiled when I wanted to scream. I dimmed my light so I wouldn’t take up too much space.

But not anymore.

I’m allowed to take up space. I’m allowed to have big feelings and loud opinions. I’m allowed to be the mom who’s still figuring it out. I’m allowed to be raw and real and completely unapologetic about it.

Because I’m not here to be digestible. I’m here to be whole.

So if my truth is too much, that’s not mine to fix. I’ll be over here loving my babies fiercely, showing them what it looks like to stand tall in who you are.

Even if that means someone has to choke on it—respectfully.