Let me tell you, a few years ago I would not have been able to write a post like this... and when I was
a new mom? Forget about it. No way.
But along the way in this whole Parenting thing, you really do learn so, so much.
And I am still learning and will never have all the answers, because no one ever will... but we learn as
we go, that's for sure.
OH- and one of the most important things I have learned so far?
That just as soon as you thing you have tackled something with your kids, beat it, figured it out and have it under control--
something new will pop up. Always.
Not long ago I was at a baby shower and everyone was asked to give the new mom advice.
Oh, people have advice, yes they certainly do have advice.
You know what I wish I knew when I was a new mom, or a mom of a 1-year old + a 3-year old...
a 2-year old + 4-year old, etc?
That there is no right way to do it, nobody has it all together(nobody!) and to follow you gut.
Let me say that again ::
1. There is no "right way" to do it
2. Nobody has it all together. NOBODY. So stop comparing yourself to other parents. NOW.
3. Follow your gut.
This applies to parenting at all ages and stages, not just babies but toddlers and preschoolers, school-aged children,
pre-teens and teenagers. Everyone.
Of course I haven't gotten past age 8 yet, but I'm sure it does. Right?
It is so incredibly easy to compare yourself to other people and as mothers I think it is increasingly difficult not to do so.
Wouldn't you agree?
She's more organized, her kids are better behaved, her kids will eat anything, her kid is reading
already and speaking Spanish, her child does not throw fits, her child doesn't hit/bite/talk back... her kids are always on High Honor Roll .... the list could go on and on.
I think that every single day, as mothers, it is easy to get down on ourselves for a variety of different reasons; we snap at the kids, we lose patience, we never had patience to begin with, we forgot a doctor appointment, we sent our kids to school sick because we didn't believe them when they said they didn't feel good, we didn't show up for our kid's performance at school(remember when I did that? that was a sad day).... again, the list goes on.
One of my favorite things about my real-life mom friends + online mom friends is that everyone is different, so very different and we are all awesomely fantastic moms for a million different reasons.
Tiny reasons + big reasons and there is always something to learn from each other.
But for some reason it is so much easier to point out our own flaws and what we are bad at, where we fail.
And fail we do, of course we do.
At least I do anyway.... A whole lot.
But there are things that all of us are good at, really good at... that work for us, for our kids, that make things easier/better/happier....
awesome things.
What do you do as a mother, for your kids or in the way you parent, that is really awesome?
I LOVE doing messy creative things with my kids, or letting them do messy creative things themselves... paint, glitter, glue,
mud, sand, making potions, digging... you name it. Using their imaginations and making big messes while they do so.
I am no neat freak, that is one thing I will never, ever be accused of(right, Eric?).
It might be a small thing... but it's a thing.
It's my thing.
So, what is your thing? What are you really awesome at?
And don't be shy, brag on yourself... what are you REally AwesOme at as a mother?Give me one thing or a whole list.
And have a Happy, happy Tuesday.
