My Crohnstipated Life

Motherhood is hard. Motherhood with Crohn’s is next-level hard. Add adoption into the mix, and it’s a beautiful, chaotic, emotional ride.

When I adopted my children, I knew life would change forever. I was prepared for sleepless nights and endless love, but I wasn’t prepared for how much my Crohn’s would react to the new stress. Parenting is exhausting for anyone, but when you have a chronic illness, exhaustion takes on a whole new meaning.

There were nights when I would rock my babies to sleep while clutching my stomach in pain. Days when I wanted to run and play with them but was too fatigued to move. Moments when the guilt crept in, whispering, “Are you doing enough?”

But here’s what I’ve learned: Love is enough. My children don’t care if I’m lying on the couch while we watch a movie instead of running around outside. They don’t care if dinner is a simple meal because I’m too tired to cook. They just want me. And I give them everything I have, even on the hard days.

Adoption changed my life. So did Crohn’s. And somehow, the two are tangled together in this crazy, beautiful story. If you’re parenting with a chronic illness, please know that you are enough. Your love is enough. Your presence is enough.

Stay Strong!