MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- There I was staring down at those eight letters that later changed my life forever.
Pregnant.
I was overcome by a flood of emotions, excited but terrified at the same time. Is this a dream? How will this affect my future? Am I ready?
I had only felt like this once before in my life, when I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.
Now as I’m about to celebrate my first Mother’s Day with my six-month-old baby boy, I realize my duty as an Airman and my duty as a mother have many similarities. Even my Air Force core values can be applied to my role as a parent.
Integrity first.
I’ve always been told that integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching. But, what I’ve learned throughout my time as both an Airman and a mom is that someone is always watching and not only that, they are learning.
So what is integrity?
To me, integrity means doing the right thing in any circumstance. It means living your life the way you would want your child or anyone else to. Whether it’s those looking up to me as I proudly wear U.S. Air Force over my heart, or my son watching me as he grows daily, I am a role model everywhere I go and I have to have integrity to be sure I’m always setting the right example.
When I signed up for the Air Force, I didn’t sign up for a job, I signed up for a lifestyle. Although my job may end at 5 p.m. each day, my role as an Airman never ends. The same thing applies to my title as a mother. Although I may not have raised my right hand and repeated an oath, I did agree to take on the responsibility of raising a child, and that commitment is 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This time commitment falls in line with the second core value.
Service before self.
I think many mothers, myself included, would be willing to say they would jump in front of a bullet for their child. Moms would do anything just to ensure that their babies are safe. This is the same type of commitment many service members feel when they enlist except instead of their baby, it’s their country. As military members, we raise our hand and swear to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies,” no matter what it takes.
However, whether it’s your baby or your country that you put before yourself, it’s important to remember that you can’t pour from an empty cup. You can’t give your all for those you love if you don’t have anything left to give.
For this reason, Air Force leadership often stresses the importance of taking care of yourself, not only physically, but mentally, spiritually and socially. This is also very important for moms. While it may seem impossible, make sure to get time to yourself and release stress in any healthy way that works best for you. It will help you perform the next core value.
Excellence in all we do.
As an Airman, I read this and think ‘HUA,’ of course we’re excellent, we bleed blue, we’re the U.S. Air Force! As a mom, I have to chuckle a little bit, thinking ‘yeah right, I’m just trying to keep my head above water.’
However, while I may fall short sometimes, I never stop trying. The truth is, if you know that you are trying your best, then that is excellent itself.
So, to all the moms out there, give yourself a break this Mother’s Day. Put your feet up, do the project you’ve been wanting to do, finish that book you started forever ago, drink your coffee before it gets cold and let someone take care of you for once.
Whether you’re a mom serving our country or a mom supporting someone who does, you’re one of the hardest workers out there and whether you hear it or not, you’re appreciated.
Happy Mother’s Day!