As mothers, we stroll through life adorned with invisible badges that no one can see. They don’t come with applause or ceremonies, but we feel their presence. Our fellow mothers, sisters, and closest pals recognize them, too. While some moms sport a few treasured badges, others wear many, each one overlapping and vying for space, each hard-won and often overlooked.
Some badges are earned the moment those two pink lines appear—lines that are yearned for and sometimes fought for with fierce determination. Others are given with each meal we forgo, battling nausea and exhaustion, staring longingly at a bowl of cereal while tears stream down our cheeks.
Certain badges come with the unmistakable sign of blood, marking the journey of motherhood in more ways than one. Others are earned as our bodies expand, ligaments stretch, and the air in our lungs becomes scarce. Some badges are awarded after navigating a mountain of paperwork and hope, even embarking on overseas journeys, culminating in that first magical moment when you lock eyes with your tiny miracle, born from something more delicate and amazing than your own body.
Then there are those badges pinned on during births that veer off-script, taking unexpected turns. Some are earned through painful experiences, as we face surgeries that slice into our bodies, laying us bare only to stitch us back together again. Physical scars may remain—shiny lines on our bellies glimmering like fish darting in the ocean, or the very real discomfort of hemorrhoids the size of Texas. And let’s not even dive into the saga of our breasts!
Badges are earned in the trenches of fatigue, as we stumble through the symphony of cries and the sweet scent of milky skin, tears inexplicably rolling down our cheeks. They are given on nights when we find ourselves sleeping on the couch beside our little one, propping them up to help them breathe, anxiously feeling the heat of their feverish hand against our arm. In those quiet moments, when the world is dark, we earn yet another badge of motherhood.
Every time we choose to be patient—explaining why clothes matter, or why biting hurts, or that candy isn’t medicine—another badge is bestowed upon us. Some badges are earned in moments of panic when we can’t see our child, and the rush of relief hits like a wave when we find them safe and sound.
We earn badges through their heartbreaks, failures, and moments of self-doubt. They get pinned to our hearts as we wipe down tables, sweep up Cheerios, fold laundry, pour milk, and toast bread—surviving the mundane routines of daily life. Some badges come during eye-roll-inducing moments filled with whining and sass, while others arrive when they don’t come home or they lie to us.
And then, there’s that one badge that shines the brightest—awarded as we notice a few strands of gray in our hair and a heart that feels a little bruised from the weight of all the others. This badge comes when we send our child out into the world, hoping they’ll earn their own badges, too.
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In summary, motherhood is a journey filled with unseen badges—each one a testament to our love, resilience, and growth. Through every challenge and joy, we wear these badges with pride, knowing they represent the unbreakable bond between us and our children.