You Are a Hero: Motherhood and Courage

Courage as a Skill Courage is one of those words that invokes a story. When I think of courage, I picture first responders running into the crumbling Twin Towers. I imagine superheroes. I think of the many incredible people fighting cancer and other illnesses.

I think of big, loud, intense events and the people that stand up to them. Sometimes, when we think and talk about courage, we view it as an innate trait–you either have it or you don’t. The truth is, most people learn to be courageous as they tackle the many challenges that show up over the course of a life well lived. If you ask one of my kids what courage means, they will tell you that courage is being scared and doing it anyway.

Most of us do something scary or unpleasant daily! Courage is skill you can learn, and a train you can cultivate. In her article , Shelly Tygielski provides several tips for cultivating courage. One of these tips is to be courageous for the sake of others.

That is motherhood in a nutshell! As mamas we are constantly pushing ourselves to our limits to make life happen for our families. You Are a Hero As mothers across the world, we are united in our courage and the inspiration we take from our children to live the best lives we can. Mothers are heroes.

The heroic acts of mothers can range from the life and death battles of war and illness to the quiet courage of carrying forward each day in spite of mental health challenges, relationship problems, and the overwhelm of constantly caring for others. Often, we overlook our own courageous acts. Many parents view themselves as simply doing what must be done. Acknowledging your own courage can help you see the unique contribution you are making in this world and it can help you see the courage in others.

Honoring the Courage of others Meet Deisy Deisy is a mother of four and a member of the Momni community. She is currently undergoing treatment for cancer. She shared her story of courage with us through Facebook. Deisy’s Family Deisy lived in Mexico as a single mother.

She worked tirelessly as a teacher in private schools where she was able to work and care for her children simultaneously. Deisy considers her children to be the “most beautiful present” in her life and worked hard to care for her family even though she never had time to rest or care for herself. When Deisy met Charly, her current partner, they initially lived thousands of miles apart. They maintained their relationship when he moved to Mexico, and they stayed together when he relocated to Houston due to issues he faced staying with her in Mexico.

During this time of transitions, Deisy was pregnant with their daughter and continued to raise her other children and work hard to support them. When she thinks of this time, Deisy recalls being so tired but unable to sleep because of her duties as a mother. She could feel her health deteriorating, and pressed forward anyway because she had no other choice. After Deisy’s youngest daughter, Isabella, was born, Deisy was diagnosed with cancer.

She needed an urgent operation and was overwhelmed with medical expenses. Even with this challenging diagnosis, Deisy and Charly’s love was strong. They were married in Houston in May of this year, and Deisy had her surgery in July. Deisy is about to start her first radiation treatment and still finds inspiration in her children and in spreading awareness about cancer and wellness: “The hope is to continue living to take care of my family and raise awareness about this disease, the care you should take in food and the lack of exercise in our lives so accelerated.” Deisy’s story is an example of a woman who is profoundly inspired by her children to keep moving forward with courage, even in the face of immense struggles.

What is your courage story? I love this quote by Mary Ann Radmacher about courage: “ Courage does not always roar . Sometimes, courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow”.” All mothers have a courage story. Whether by birth, adoption, infertility treatments, foster care, or other circumstances, the very act of becoming a mother takes courage.

Sometimes, like in Deisy’s case, life presents a series or enormous challenges that we must battle through each day. Sometimes, courage is quiet. It is speaking up on behalf of our kids when we would rather not have to. It is living our dreams, even when others judge us.

Sometimes courage is apologizing for mistakes we make or owning our power when it would be easier to defer to someone else. Through life, loss, love, and death, we endure. Group Discussion and Journal Prompt Ideas: Write down or share your answers to the following questions: What do you think of when you hear the word courage? Who is the most courageous person you know?

What is the biggest challenge you have faced? How did you overcome it? What is a quiet challenge you face each day? How does courage show up in your life?

Email us at support@momni.com . We would love to hear your stories!