Being a parent is hard, and no matter what your family’s circumstances, it requires regular sacrifice. If you’re a stay-at-home mom that means giving up pretty much everything else in your life in order to make sure your babies get the best start possible on theirs.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8zNA_HnNwD

It can be a thankless job, and one you’re not sure you really wanted some days, and there are doubts and worries that seem to compound every day.

There are the regular ones about how well you’re doing as a parent, whether or not you could be doing better or more, and the ones where you wonder whether your career or friends or hobbies will be there waiting when you can get back to them in a few years.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8zGVp7BcO1

This woman wrote an open letter to the stay-at-home moms and honestly, it brought a bit of a tear to my eye.

“Dear stay-at-home mom,
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I see the work you’re doing in raising these children and it is the hardest, most undervalued kind of work.⁣⁣
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I want you to know no one else was considered for the job. You were the only one qualified for this child.⁣⁣
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You are a sacrificial and serving mom.⁣⁣
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You are a woman who is giving up a few years of her life to guarantee another human has the best years of theirs.⁣⁣
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You are creating memories, even on the mundane days.⁣⁣

You are providing the consistency that all children deserve.⁣⁣
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You are teaching them that it’s great to have the best day ever, but it’s more realistic to not. So even in your flops and failures they are learning the invaluable lesson of resilience.⁣⁣
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You are a chef, chauffeur, social event coordinator, speech developer, housekeeper, counselor, toy fixer/finder, nurse, librarian, physical education teacher, leader, mother and friend.⁣⁣
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You are employed by the greatest company: Your child.⁣⁣
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You won’t enjoy every minute, and that’s okay, no job is without its setbacks. But one day you’ll look up and you’ll have a bit more of your life back. Your meals will be warm, your clothes unstained.⁣⁣
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And you’ll remember, the years you spent pouring into another person never went unnoticed.⁣⁣
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If they can’t say it right now, I will:⁣⁣
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You are a good, good mother⁣.⁣”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8zEV3WDay6

The letter was penned by Stephanie Hanrahan, who you can follow on Facebook, Instagram, or her website.

It’s nice to know that on the days I’ve not been able to shower, when my clothes are splattered with heaven knows what, the toddler is crying for no reason and the baby is pulling all of the snacks out of the cabinet that people still see me – and they think the work I’m doing is good.