From a really young age, I understood that I wasn’t the fun friend. I was the friend worried about the outcome of our choices. I was always overthinking everything we did and worrying about the finer details. If I had to describe my personality, it would be that of an administrator. I loved to be in charge and bossy, but in the most organized and nurturing way. On the flip side, my little sister was go with the flow, laugh at everything, life of the party. She was messy and silly. She brought me out of my comfort zone, and I dragged her back from the brink of disaster.
The one thing we had in common was that we both wanted to be mothers. When I looked at us objectively, I realized one of us would be the fun mom, and one of us would be me. I was not built to be the fun mom, and that hurt my feelings on more days than I care to admit—but for the life of me, I didn’t know how to change that.
I tried so hard in my 20s to be more fun. I sometimes tried to step out of my comfort zone and do something “crazy,” but inevitably, I would snap right back into my old ways. You see, I was not built to be the one bringing excitement to a room. I am not the one people go to when they want a laugh, or the one they go to when they want to try something new. People don’t think of me and adventure in the same sentence.
I became a mom in my mid-20s, and boy, was that both beautiful and challenging. I was still trying to figure out who I was—and suddenly I was charged with the care of these tiny people I created. I tried on many different versions of motherhood, but the one I settled into is the version I am now. The one I love. The one I am not afraid of anymore. Because you see, I am not the fun mom—I am the reliable mom.
I am the mom who always has Band-Aids. I am the mom who has extra blankets and everyone’s favorite snack on hand. I’m the mom who knows your favorite color, and I’ve already got your shoes in the next two sizes. I am the mom who’s always busy tidying and prepping something, but will stop to get lost in a book with you. The mom who drops everything and shows up the minute you need help. I am the mom who is unwavering. I am the mom who will cover you in prayer before you’ve even spoken a request out loud, and I am the mom who is always in the crowd, cheering you on.
There is a place for fun moms. I love them dearly, and we need the fun moms to balance our world. To bring us laughter and adventure and excitement. It used to bother me that I’d never be a fun mom, but as I’ve settled into my 30s, I’ve grown comfortable with being the one people can lean on and the steady one for my family.
Because in a world full of fun moms, there’s plenty of room for us reliable moms too.
by Maralee Bradley 
by Moriah Couch 
by Jenny Albers 
