Dear Mama: You Are a SuperHero.

Let’s be real.

Being a mom is tough, I meanreally tough. Especially being a new mom. But want to know something? We are pretty much superheroes. 

When I was 24 years old, my husband (then fiance) and I were expecting our first baby. To set the tone of how this went… over the 4th of July weekend we were in the Florida Keys with some friends. Sunburns, scooters, late nights, and lots of alcohol. I mean lots. I felt bloated the entire weekend, I even made my husband buy me one of those long maxi dresses from a street vendor at 1am because I was so uncomfortable in my jeans. But I was convinced it was just the booze. Fast forward one week later…my husband asked me to take a pregnancy test “just to be sure”. So I did.Well, I took 4. Because the first one was positive and in my state of panic I blamed it on the protein shake I just drank after working out – convincing myself it was a false positive (yes, this is a true story and yes I am a medical professional… don’t judge me for that conclusion). When the following 3 tests were positive, I cried. Not a cute, happy cry but that terrible, face squishing, hyperventilating cry. I was 24. I was in nursing school. I thought my life was over. I thought I wouldn’t graduate. 

I know that sounds ridiculous. But those were my honest feelings at the time!

It took a while for those emotions to pass and for me to get back to that “I can do this” mentality. I was due in March – my last semester of nursing school. I felt confident that everything would be alright until going in to meet with the dean of my program in February. The purpose of the meeting was to plan for what happens after giving birth in order to graduate on time in May. Keep in mind, I had already been accepted to a combined Masters/Doctorate program that was set to start that August. So I was in a slight time crunch. 

Well, I left that meeting balling my eyes out. The dean told me there isNO WAYI would graduate. That I would HAVE to take medical leave and return to school the following fall in order to finish, that from HER experience of having children there is NO WAY I could come back sooner than 6 weeks after giving birth. Once again, there went my perfect timeline.

There went graduating.

There went my acceptance into the Masters/Doctorate program.

Dr. Brooks would have to be put on hold.

But then I snapped out of it! You know why?I was not about to let this woman dictate MY future based on HER feelings. I’ll admit – this took some pushing from my husband who’s a natural “either you believe in me or you can kick rocks” type of human. I have to give credit where credit is due. Either way, I chugged right along, gave birth to my daughter over spring break (talk about great timing), returned to my pediatric clinical immersion 10 days later, and walked across the stage holding my 5-week-old baby girl as CeCe Brooks, RN, BSN.

A month later, I took and passed the NCLEX (the national exam for nurses) and proceeded to enter a Masters/Doctorate program that August. Dr. Brooks, with a 5-month-old daughter, was still in sight – well 11 semesters away but you get the point.

Let’s keep going…

Turns out, during the last semester of my Masters program (the semester before beginning the Doctoral portion) I was due to have our second child – a baby boy. Apparently I love having children during pretty crucial times of my schooling.But, this time around, I felt way more supported. I didn’t have a dean who put me into a box and limited my capabilities. I had professors who rooted for me, a great friend in the same program who helped me an insane amount (shout out to you Kaitlan!), a husband who supported my dreams, and a baby girl I wanted to show that SHE. CAN. DO. ANYTHING. Not to mention, I was a few years older. Does the whole “with age comes wisdom” thing apply if I was still in my mid-20s? Rhetorical question, I’m counting it.

I had been through this once before, so what’s one more time?

My son came into the world June 11th. I was sitting in class for a mandatory exit exam on June 18th (i.e. a terrible test that evaluates your readiness to pass the national boards). I finished the mandatory 160 clinical hours for the summer session (which ran from early May until the end of July). I took the Nurse Practitioner boards in August and started the doctoral portion of the program later that month. I was now CeCe Brooks, MSN, CPNP-PC, once again, with a 6-week-old nugget.

Because I chose a career that requires a ridiculous amount of schooling, no worries, I still wasn’t done. I continued on for the next year and a half balancing school life, mom life (x2), wife life, and an attempt at a social life. But here I am. Dr. CeCe Brooks, DNP, CPNP-PC.Mama of twoamazing, beautiful, sassy, sweet, stubborn (cough..cough.. A trait from daddy… give credit where credit is due, right?) kiddos.

What’s your point CeCe? 

My point is this:

You and I?We’re SUPERHEROES!

Please never forget that. We are allowed to define ourselves. We are allowed to control what we do and what we don’t do. We are allowed to have dreams and goals. We are allowed to achieve those goals with a little munchkin, or two, or seven, in tow. I almost caved to the fear, worry, and skepticism my nursing school dean placed in my heart. I am SO thankful that I didn’t let that weigh me down. That I didn’t letherthoughts, feelings, and experiences dictatemine. It was scary at times and I was uncertain. But I took it day by day. And in the end, I made it. You can too.

I understand that not all stories look like mine. Not everyone has the support system I was fortunate enough to have. That’s the beauty in this though…everyone’s story IS different. But, we all have something we want to pursue or some goal we want to chase. Whether it’s going back to school, spending more time on self-care, getting a job, planting flowers with your kids, cooking more, or stressing less. Whatever it is, I encourage you to pursue it. 

I know, being a mom is already a full time job. But with practice and patience, you can find the balance. It won’t be perfect, trust me I still struggle sometimes. It is possible, though. And if you find yourself flat out saying “I can’t” well then replace that statement with “I can’t…yet”. Because wheneveryouchoose to,you CAN do it– with a mean mugging son in your arms and all.

The Discovery Doc – Dr. CeCe Brooks – Atlanta Holistic NP

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