When You Need a Cheerleader

Having a child brings a whole new level to the term “no modesty.”

As many of you have experienced, monthly doctor’s visits during your pregnancy leave little to the imagination. You are poked and prodded in all the places and it becomes no big deal to strip down to nothing, put on a gown, and lay on a table for all to see.

Delivery adds another dimension. If you are like 85% of women, you will likely have a bowel movement right there on the table as you are trying to push your precious bundle of joy out of your body. And it doesn’t even matter. Because you are huge and uncomfortable and tired of being pregnant and you just want that child to come out, gosh darn it.

Eventually, after a few weeks of post-partum doctor’s visits, your body somewhat begins to feel as if it once again belongs to you. (Unless, of course, you are nursing.) But at some point, you begin to feel a little more like yourself. And it’s exciting to have a little privacy every once in a while, without people checking all your body parts. Long baths become a thing again. Aaah.

And then.

Then that precious little lamb that you birthed just a few short months ago starts to move. On her own. And she starts to follow you everywhere you go. Privacy is no longer an option. (Ask me how I know.)

We have four children – our oldest is 17 and our youngest is 3 – and I can’t really remember what the word privacy means anymore.

Sometimes it’s slightly frustrating. I mean, why don’t any of my kids follow their dad into the bathroom? It doesn’t seem fair.

But I suppose that’s part of being a mom. Sacrificing everything for our precious bundles of joy.

My oldest 3 had gotten better – they weren’t following me into the toilet area anymore – just hanging out right outside it while asking me a million questions. That’s helpful. (Hear the sarcasm.) But at least I had a small amount of privacy, right?

But when we brought Jillienne home from India, she wouldn’t let me out of her sight. Literally. She would even follow me as I showered, standing in the bathroom staring at me. Super fun. And not creepy at all.

One day not too long ago, I was having a stressful day. The house was a wreck, I had a lot on my plate for church and for work, and I was feeling overwhelmed.

I went to the bathroom for a few minutes of peace and of course, our three-year old followed me. As I sat on the toilet (sorry for the TMI), she began cheering.

“Yay, Mommy! You peed in the potty! Good job, Mommy!”

Her unexpected excitement made me laugh.

She was actually cheering over the fact that I, a grown woman, had peed in the potty.

Later I was relaying this incident to a friend and we giggled about Jillienne’s enthusiastic encouragement.

Although it was funny , it also reminded me that sometimes we just need a cheerleader in our corner. Somebody to encourage us, not only in the big things, but also in the small things. The seemingly insignificant things.

Because let’s face it – most of us are drowning in our to-do lists or feeling overwhelmed with all the expectations placed on us. This pandemic has been stressful even if our lives feel somewhat normal. And on top of that, we all go through seasons of difficulty at some point.

Yet if we have someone in our corner, cheering us on, even if it’s from afar, we feel encouraged and strong. We feel as if we can accomplish at least a few items on that never-ending list of things to do.

I want to be an encourager to others. I’m sure you do too. So this week, find a friend who could use a word of encouragement. Send her a quick text or drop a coffee off at her house. Do something to let her know you see her and you are cheering her on.