Continuing on with my coffee date with Karin Rooney at East Parker County Coffee in Aledo, we continued to talk about motherhood. Specifically motherhood and the “wars” that can form between stay at home moms versus working outside of the home moms. Have you ever experienced that before for yourself? I can say that we have an even mixture of patients that are staying at home and others that work outside of the home and we hear the “battle” cry weekly.
I feel I should also give some background to where this conversation stems from. I personally closed my chiropractic practice in Bedford, Texas back in January 2012, just 1 month before we welcomed our first son into the world. We decided to buy a home in my husband’s hometown of Santo, Texas and I had every intention of being a stay at home mom. Y’all. Can I be honest? My first son was beautiful and I felt like he became my purpose in life. However, he was colicky, breastfeeding was this tortuous event, and I had suffered from symptoms of postpartum depression. It was not easy in the slightest bit. (He definitely gets that determination personality from his mama and dad.) So when my postpartum concierge doula friend, Ashley Coones, had asked when I was coming back to work and if I would be willing to open up a pediatric and prenatal centered chiropractic clinic in Aledo, I jumped on the opportunity. I felt excited and hopeful to find a breath of air, but also shameful that I didn’t want to stay at home with my infant son. I mean, I was a mother now, that’s what I am meant to focus on, right? I didn’t feel like I was strong enough to be a stay at home mom. Ten and a half months of being home was enough to determine that for me.
So when I mentioned to Karin in our interview the words of, “I am not strong enough to be a stay at home mom”. Without Karin knowing my backstory, she answers in a way that is healing to my own heart and motherhood journey. She replied, “Some days, I don’t know if I am strong enough either”. Karin continues on, “I look at you and Dr. Darcy. I would not have the health I have if it wasn’t for you guys and you work full time. I need you. If you were at home full time, I think that would be great, but I am thankful you don’t”.
Now, this is where I ended typing up my post, but then went to church yesterday morning at Trinity Bible Church in Willow Park and feel like this story, isn’t done. God and Pastor Sherman have some more to add to this theme. (Doesn’t God work in such mysterious and magical ways such as this? 💕) Yesterday’s sermon was all about The Parable of the Bags of Gold found in Matthew 25:14-30. In verse 15, it says, “To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.” I feel I should unpack this message even further, but I am literally sitting in the parking lot typing up the rest of this blog post on my lunch break. Trinity Bible Church has their sermons recorded and up on their website if you would like to listen to the full message. Now, did you read those words “each according to his ability” and feel it like I did yesterday? We all work for just 1 master and it is all for His glory. God gives us our work according to His plan and our ability.
In Colossians 3:23-24 it says, “ (23) Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, (24) since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ toy see serving.” In Romans 12:6 it explains, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us...” I Peter in 4:10, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms”. The take away message, God has placed you either inside your home full time, part time, evenings, mornings, at work, in that particular school, in your community, in your home, for a specific reason with purpose and grace and those skills to make an impact to those around you. Even if those around you are only three feet tall and yell at you all day.
Karin and I both agree that there should be peace within the lives of families. Each family is going to have different parameters than the next, so it isn’t fair to judge or compare. Another reason why we adore Karin Rooney, author of book Sink or Swim, wife, local Aledo mom, and mother to three little ones. And go check out Karin’s book, seriously. She has so many insights of being a Christian, a mom, a wife and just trying to make it day to day.
I hope these words penetrate your heart right where they needed to at that exact moment. We see you mama when you walk into our clinic. We see how hard you are working and you are doing so much better than you think.
Until next time, much love and health for you and your family,
Dr. Michelle Parker
Pediatric Certified Chiropractic
Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant
The Chiropractic Place for Mommy & Me
301 Elm Street, Aledo, Texas 76008