The Great Calling of MotherhoodVegreville News Advertiser - May 10, 2023

Tracy Laschowski-Semeniuk’s Journey Through the Great Calling of Motherhood

Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent

Tracy Laschowski-Semeniuk lives on a farm near Hairy Hill with her husband Travis and two sons Rhett who is almost four-years-old and Judd who is almost two-years-old.

Tracy admitted that she felt overjoyed, overwhelmed and a bit terrified once her babies were born. “When they were born, it suddenly became very real. I remember feeling so relieved when each of my children were born. Their deliveries both went well and without complications, they were born healthy and strong. I experienced an overwhelming feeling of love but also it felt a bit surreal. I was instantly completely devoted to those little humans.

Tracy with Judd.

(Michaela Charlebois’s Photography/Photo)

For me the feelings of being a mother expand and change every day. Nothing is really the same after having children but in a really special kind of way. My priorities, hopes, fears, interests, boundaries all shifted after having children and continue to change as my children grow. Children learn and grow so quickly that there is constant change, something is always new. It is a really beautiful thing. I absolutely adore my children and every day I feel so grateful.

What I find rewarding is hearing my children say things like, “Thanks Mama, you’re the best!” Even though I don’t always feel like “the best”. Through their eyes I am. The innocence in that is pretty amazing.

There are so many challenges with being a parent in general, whether it is today or 40 years ago. I think there are many differences and many similarities. Forty years ago, the Maternity Leave options for working moms were not near as long as they are today where for mothers I believe Maternity Leave options were three to six months. Today we have 12 to 18 months options.

The other piece to that is that today fathers are also offered parental leave options from their jobs to be stay at home Dads. I think that is huge progress in terms of gender equality. There is still a way to go but in the 80’s it was extremely rare to see a stay at home father.

I also think that the childcare options for working parents has really shifted. Forty years ago, it was not difficult to find childcare for your children when you went to work. Often a grandparent or family member or even a neighbour or close friend would watch children. I think we see less of that now for a variety of reasons. Often grandparents or other family members are working out of the house at full time jobs themselves until later in life. Childcare today for working parents is very difficult to find and can be quite expensive.

Tracy with her husband Travis and their two sons, Rhett and Judd.

(Michaela Charlebois’s Photography/Photo)

Being a mother is a unique profession that is different from any other callings in life because there are no coffee breaks, lunch breaks, paid vacation, or retiring at 65 years old. Once you are a mother you are always a mother. The role obviously changes as children grow and become adults. Even so, moms are always on call. Being a mother is one of the most rewarding and stressful jobs there is. It is also highly emotional, unpredictable and ever changing. As a mother I have to show up every single day for my children.

What comes with ease to one mother may be a challenge for another. There are many challenges with being a mother but even on the hardest days I would still choose it, I would still choose my kids.

We all have different skill sets, experiences and personalities as moms and that reflects on our parenting styles. One of the biggest challenges that I have is trying to raise my boys with traditional values in an ever evolving world. It is challenging finding a balance between building a traditional foundation of values that are important to my husband and me, and making sure we are setting our children up for success in a modern world.

Choosing to become a parent or not to become a parent is a very personal choice. Obviously, it is not a choice to be taken lightly. Becoming a parent involves growth and change, not just for the littles you are raising but especially for you as their mother. For me to be the best, most present mother that I can be for my boys, I need to be healthy and grounded. That is not always an easy task to stay on top of during the hustle and bustle of parenthood. However, I have to prioritize myself in order to show up as my best self for my children. They deserve that! My boys know I am not a perfect mom, however, they also know that they are loved, safe and adored every single day.”