Many think that the perfect mom is always dressed to the nines. Her kids don't eat fast food or sugar, and they never watch TV. They think that the perfect mom would never have kids that scream and act like crazy people in the grocery store. Well it looks like I am a perfect mother ;) Just kidding - but really, I am the perfect mom! Although I am none of the things that society believes I should be.
We try to make being super mom look easy and effortless when in reality it's not. I believe that striving for perfection and giving mothering everything you have is perfect! I believe that my immense love for my son is perfect. The reality is I am a good mom and for my son I AM PERFECT.
There comes a point when NOT being flawless is ok. For me it took awhile. Like most other mothers I follow some of the most "perfect" women on social media. I have pinned thousands of pins on Pinterest, and I have read hundreds of blogs of how I should be mothering. Where did some of these moms get their manuals? And why does it have to be a show boat of who is the best? Who can look absolutely flawless as they deliver, and who's kids are always well behaved? Motherhood is beautiful and terrifying all at once, and sometimes it will bring you to tears. Tears of happiness and tears of being scared. We as mothers are in this together. Learning and doing the best we can and we should stand as a team. Being a mother has changed me, it has made me cautious, it has made me more tired, and it has made me happier then I can ever describe. I am learning to slow down, and enjoy it.
“Motherhood is a choice you make everyday, to put someone else’s happiness and well-being ahead of your own, to teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you’re not sure what the right thing is… and to forgive yourself, over and over again, for doing everything wrong.” – Donna Ball
I have failed as a mother many times and learned from those failures. Some days I am just winging it and that's okay! Of course I have imperfections. I rarely wear makeup, I still am carrying baby weight, to me leggings are real pants, I DO NOT CRAFT, and I am learning that it's okay to have a messy house - it will eventually get cleaned up (maybe ;) ). Our children don't need a flawless mother, they need to be fed, clothed, comforted, watched over and most importantly LOVED. They need to be taught wrong from right, compassion, and honestly. It's time we give ourselves credit for all the work we do and we redefine what being flawless is. We all can be perfect moms and giving all of ourselves to our families is what makes us perfect moms. And the truth is this imperfect mom is doing a perfect job.