I blinked, and it’s April. How did that happen?

Daphne and Henry both have birthdays this month — Daph will be seven (CRAZY TOWN — I’m not old enough to have a seven-year-old!) and Henry just turned five (HOLY GUACAMOLE — we’re staring kindergarten in the face!).

I’m seriously in denial over here.

And you know, it’s funny. Some days, I can’t remember what I ate for breakfast, and I have to write down all of my to-dos or risk forgetting crucial tasks, but I remember everything surrounding the birth of my kids. I remember what it felt like to be a new mom, and then a mom again. And again. 🙂

Lately, I’ve been watching Henry with what I can really only call astonishment. This is the kid I worry about — I’ve written about that before. This is the kid who gets nervous. Who cries. Who sometimes can’t walk into his classroom on his own — even though he’s been walking in the same classroom for two years.

But lately?

This kid. This kid has grown up so much.

Lately, I’ve seen him do “big kid” things without flinching. Or with a little flinching — but a lot of grit.

He got on a big-kid ride at a carnival. He was scared — but he did it. And he loved it.

He’s learning to step out on his own, even when it’s clearly outside his comfort zone. It’s hard — but he does it. And he has fun.

It’s got me thinking, Mama.

I’ve always known that Henry would be able to do big kid things one day. I’ve always believed that he could. But he had to learn to believe it about himself. He’s stepping into that now, and it’s amazing to watch.

What about you?

I know you can do this Free Mama thing. If you can read this blog post, you can be a Virtual Administrative Consultant. But until you believe it for yourself, it won’t happen.

Let me put it another way: if you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else? I know — it’s tough to hear that. But it’s true, and I say it with love. I believe in you now, and the moment you start to believe in yourself, you will be AMAZED by the awesomeness that follows.

The most awesome part? When you embrace the Free Mama way of life, you’ll get to be present for these moments with your kids. You’ll get to see fear give way to grit. You’ll get to watch them fall down — and pick themselves back up.

You just have to want this enough to be willing to do anything to get there. And it starts with a simple decision.

You have to decide that you’re committed. Not that you’ll try or that you want to — that you’ll do it. You’ll take the leap and BE a freelancer. Even when it’s hard. Even when you’d rather not. Even when you’re exhausted and afraid.

If you’re ready to commit, head over to the Facebook group and declare it out loud.

All those things you want and dream about are within your reach. Stretch yourself, Mama, and you can have it all.