Dear Mama: You Are a SuperHero.

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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