Until recently, six months ago to be specific, I had no idea what it was like on the inside of being a mother. I had always seen the hardships and struggle of dealing with the crying baby and the constant diaper changing, but I was never really able to look passed that and see it through a mother's eyes, at least not until I had my own child.

So, there are some things I have learned in the last several months that have really changed my thought processes and how I view the word "mother."

A mother is... tireless.

Truly, there is no end to a mom's endless ambition. Despite the constant demand for attention and needy behavior of a child, she is persistent in her efforts to bring peace to her little one. This is something to be admired and embodied in every sense of the word.

A mother is... brave.

There are so many things in my life that I would never have even ventured to try before becoming a mom. Just the thought of taking care of a sick, little one who was too sick to go out but not sick enough to go to the doctor was terrifying to me until it happened. Three nights of sleeplessness and crying later, the fever broke and we both slept for hours. There is something to be said for standing with your little ones when they don't feel well. There is a courage to it that is underlying in every note.

A mother is... strong.

Some may say that being a mom isn't difficult and it is trumped by much harder things like math or engineering, but I beg to differ. Being a mother is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life, and it has made me stronger, smarter, and more mindful than I ever was before. I look at mothers around me and I find myself smiling at this group of women filled with strength and honor that trumps anything else I've seen.

A mother is... kind.

There is a peace and a kindness I have been learning to embrace since I brought my child into this world. As a person, this is something I never truly struggled with, however after becoming a nurturer in the eyes of someone so small, it has really opened my eyes to what it means to be kind. It is more than just lending a hand here and there. It is about loving with your actions, and this is something that never ceases in motherhood.

Finally, a mother is everything God intended for a nurturing spirit. I understand that we all go through things in our lives, but I truly believe that when done right, we as parents can embrace our children and show them what it means to be tireless, kind, strong, and in the midst of it all, brave.