Motherhood


“Remember, there is nothing you cannot do from this point on. You just overcame such a long and difficult delivery.”


These were the words of the nurse who stayed by my side throughout my long and difficult delivery with my first daughter.


I still remember her strong, thoughtful eyes. Her words have stayed in my heart ever since, quietly reminding me of my own strength whenever I forget it.


And today, I want to share that same message with you.


We get frustrated. We lose our patience. Sometimes, after putting our children to bed, we lie there thinking, Why did I get so angry over something so small?


There are days when we feel lost. Days when we wonder if we are doing enough, or if there is anything special about us beyond being a mother.


When you feel that way, I hope you remember this:



You are already doing something extraordinary.


You brought a precious life into this world. You spend your days caring, trying, learning, adjusting, and giving so much of yourself to your family. You hold so many little things together, often without anyone noticing.


And maybe you don't always see how remarkable that is because you are living it every day.


But one day, you may look back on this season and realize just how much you carried, how much you gave, and how deeply you loved.


So give yourself credit. Listen to your heart. And when there is something you want to do, don't be afraid to reach for it.


Your children don't need to see a perfect mother. Perhaps one of the greatest gifts you can give them is to let them see a mother who loves deeply, keeps growing, follows her heart, and has the courage to become who she wants to be.


These days may feel messy, exhausting, and fleeting.


But they are also filled with moments you will wish you could hold onto forever.


That is one of the reasons I love photography. A photograph can remind us of what we couldn't fully see while we were living it—the love, the connection, the beauty in the middle of all the beautiful chaos.


And perhaps, this is also a little reminder for myself:



You are doing something extraordinary. Don't forget to see it.



「忘れないで。この先、あなたにできないことなんて何一つないのよ。こんな大変なお産を乗り越えたんだから。」


これは、お産を終えた時、ずっと付き添ってくれたナースがかけてくれた言葉。


あの時の彼女の力強いメッセージと眼差しが忘れられない。あの言葉をかけてもらったから、今挑戦し続けている自分がいる。


この言葉を、全てのママに送りたい。


つい、イライラしてしまうことだってある。


何であんなことで怒っちゃったんだろうって、子どもが寝た後でやるせない気持ちになることもある。


自分には取り柄が何もないとみじめに感じる時だってある。


そんな時に思い出してほしい。あなたは既にスーパーママだし、何だってできる。


これから先、何かやりたいことが見つかった時、あなたにできないことなんて何一つない。だって、尊い命をこの世に送り出して、家族のために毎日試行錯誤して、そんなことができてるあなたは既にすごい。


自分で自分をしっかり認めて、自分の心に正直に、やりたいと思うことに果敢に挑戦していけばいい。


そんな生き生きとしたママの背中を見せることこそが、子どもたちにとって、最高の贈り物になると思う。


そして、そんな慌ただしい日々が、振り返ってみると最高にキラキラした宝物の時間になっているのだと思う。その時には気づかないけれど。


だから私は、写真が好き。少しでも立ち止まって、深呼吸して、今を味わい感謝する時間を。


自分へのリマインドも込めて。