We all have those days when we start to question whether or not we are doing it right. I had a mini-breakdown a few year back while hiding in my bathroom from responsibility. It was right after having my second child, Liam. My workload was increasing, but so was my motherly duties. I had a hard time adjusting from one to two kids – especially since I was also running two full-time businesses from home.
So on that day, I locked myself in my bathroom, sat on the floor, and just started to cry. I cried because I felt like I was failing everyone. I was failing as a wife, as a mom, as a provider, as a friend. There wasn’t one role I was doing right and I felt that weight on my chest like a boulder. Jack of all trades… that was me.
Then for some reason, I started to think about dinner. Because even with everything that I had to do during the day, I still have to make dinner for my family, right? And well… that just put me over the edge. I’m talking dry heaving / snot running / body convulsing fit of tears. Why? Because I didn’t plan ahead. Because I didn’t have a vegetable in the house or a piece of meat. What could I possibly make for my family when I haven’t gone grocery shopping — another thing I failed to do that week.
And then I told myself that I will “just make pasta and that would have to be good enough”.
The last few words sort of lingered in my head – good enough.
It was the best I could do . I could only make them pasta and in the end – in the grand scheme of things – that would be just fine. There’s no medal at the end of this race. Do my children really care if I serve them pasta with butter for dinner? No! In fact, they LOVE when I do that because it’s one of their favorite meals.
It’s good enough. Seriously.
All these expectations. These doubts. These levels of achievement I so desperately try to hit — who puts them on me? I DO! You know when my children get upset? When I serve them roasted brussel sprouts and tilapia. When I take the time and plan out my meals – that’s when the fights ensue because in the end … all they really want is pasta with butter.
So, like a wave of forgiveness, I realized on that bathroom floor many years ago that I am doing right by my kids. And just like that I stopped being so hard on myself. I also called my mother and apologized to her over and over again for being so mean to her as a tween / teen. I finally understood that she too did the best she could do for me when I was a child. We cried a lot on the phone that day — but that is another story of forgiveness entirely.
If you are still in that place of feeling like you just aren’t giving what you should be giving to your kids, I am here to tell you to think again! Here are 25 reasons to PROVE that you are doing it right SISTER!!!
- Your children want you to tuck them into bed each night.
- All messy arts and craft projects are dedicated to you.
- Your living room/ den looks like a bomb dropped because your kids spend so much time having fun while at home.
- There’s still cuddle time.
- When an injury occurs, you are the first one they run to.
- Your coloring skills are top notch.
- Your hearing ability puts you on superhero status. A sneeze, a cry, a tip toe. You are aware.
- When things get a little boring, you are able to create a fun activity out of shoe string and an acorn.
- You don’t mind sitting on the floor and getting a little dirty.
- You understand the power / value of the baby wipe.
- Your arm muscles are tight and strong because all you do is push swings, strollers, bikes, wagons…
- Weekends don’t mean clubbing anymore… it’s more like soccer fields and baseball bleachers.
- Sometimes your kids play in the rain and eat pancakes for dinner. Yes, you’re that kind of mom!
- Love is spoken and is spoken often.
- You’ve said the words, “Because I said so” and recognized that when you were a child you swore you would never say them. And then you said them again. 🙂
- Even when you don’t have a baby in your arms… you still find yourself swaying out of habit.
- You’re able to get ready in the morning in under 10 minutes because that’s all your family will allow you.
- Mary Poppins’ purse has nothing on your bag!!
- You are capable of multi-tasking better than anyone you know. Even as you read this you are figuring out what’s for dinner, changing a diaper, and doing laundry.
- You really do have eyes behind your head.
- You have no more storage on your iPhone because of too many videos / photos of your kids.
- You recognize that you get to do life all over again through your baby’s eyes.
- You find yourself watching cartoons even though your children are at school. Hey – it happens.
- You surround your children with kids that lift them up – not bring down their spirits.
- You cannot imagine life any other way.
Do you have anything you’d like to add to my list? Would love to keep this conversation going!!
