Your Value

“You write? About what?”

I answered my friend, who had no idea I had a blog or wrote anything at all. He continued,

“So you write about all your trips to Target?”

His last question had no curiosity, but was more of a statement that he thought was pretty funny.

I don’t remember exactly how I responded, but my insides were fuming. Miraculously, I held in the things I wanted to say and waited until Brian and I were back in the car. Then, like he has done for 26 years, he listened patiently to my ranting, letting me get out all the things about that interchange that made my blood boil.

I’ve thought a lot about that night. My friend’s attitude was dismissive and condescending, and as a mother who has stayed home to raise her family, it is not the first time I have encountered this. I despise it every single time.

I know who I am, and I know my value.

I chose to stay home to raise my six children. I am neither uneducated or unskilled. I made a decision. Mothering, I have found, never ends. Not that it matters, but my life is not filled with trips to Target. I finished school decades ago, but I have learned so much since then about diabetes, insulin pumps, celiac disease, ADHD, depression and anxiety, hypothyroidism, soccer, competitive dance, basketball, life coaching, colorguard, gluten-free cooking, pets, growth hormone and everything else that comes into my life whether from necessity or just because I want to know. While the value I bring doesn’t come with a paycheck, it is valuable all the same.

As the week passed, I started to feel grateful for the “conversation” my friend and I had. It was a good reminder for me. I have nothing to prove. While it would be nice to have everyone see the value in the life I have chosen, it’s not necessary. I know my worth. I don’t need anyone else’s approval or admiration or praise.

Neither do you.

When you know your value, you stop relying so heavily on other people. They don’t have to believe in you because YOU believe in yourself.

It’s amazing. Try it.

In the meantime, I will continue to write about all the things in my life—the lessons I learn, the experiences I have, the joyful things and the devastating ones. For me, writing connects the dots in my life. It helps me see how all the seemingly unrelated circumstances have a purpose and are working together for my good.

P.S. Stay tuned for next week’s blog—I found some great stuff at Target!