Give Hi-Fives

This past year I have been doing more running than any previous year. Sometimes I run in the afternoon, but mostly I get my run completed in the morning. No matter what time of the day I run, I experience the friendliness of fellow runners. I find that women on either side of the street will give me a friendly wave when we pass each other. I never know who the women are, where they are from, or how their run is going.  However, their wave always perks me up and gives me a boost. When I’m out there by myself, sometimes it is that small bit of encouragement that keeps me going.  I find comfort knowing that other women are out running and doing what I am doing. I may not personally know the women, but I know some things about them. I can relate to their struggles to get out of bed, to run through the pain, to confront the mental battles, and so much more.  Through the runner’s wave, we are acknowledging each other and encouraging each other to continue on.

I want to transfer this culture to the working mom world. When I see another working mom, whether married, single, or something in between, I am going to give her a high-five. I like high-fives. The high-five will take the place of the runner’s wave.  It is a public display of celebration and encouragement between two people. When I see another working mom, I’m going to give her a high-five.

For working moms, sometimes just showing up some place can deserve a hi-five. I can relate to the struggles to get out of the house. Whether you got yourself together to show up some place, drove your kids to an activity, packed lunches, changed diapers, read a book, or a million other mommy things while working, you deserve a high-five.

Working moms need to support, uplift, and encourage each other more like runners do. On the 4^th of July, I ran in a 5-mile race. During the last half mile, I approached the final hill and a woman on the sidewalk yelled out to me, “Keep your head up. You can do it.” I listened to this lady, picked my head up and pumped my arms.  She gave me the encouragement to take the last hill and finish strong.

We moms need to do the same. We do not have to know each other personally, but we can encourage each other from the “sidewalk” to “Keep our heads up and keep going”.  When we see other moms, we need to encourage each other. Give a high-five.