Playing this role of a lifetime without a script is no easy feat!! What mom can pull that off?
When I was a, shall we say, less seasoned mom, I thought I had to be the perfect mom who raised perfect children in a perfect home. Often times I looked around me and saw other moms who {I thought} had it all going on. There was one in particular. She was amazing. She was a super mom in my eyes. I would leave after having spent time with her and feel like there was just no way I could ever be as good as her.
I would go home and ask God to make me better... make me more like her. I would try to be more like her with my kids and do you know what? I was miserable. They were miserable. Trying to be someone else with MY kids just wasn't working!
Then one day I re-read the story of Mary. You know, THE Mary - mother of Jesus. And it hit me right between the eyes. Even she, the mother of the Savior of the World, didn't meet the standard of Super Mom I had set for myself. She knew about as much about parenting as I did when I first found out I was expecting. Only I had the benefit of about 10 more years of life experience than she did. All she had was a willingness to follow where God led.
That's it.
Well, I had that.
Right then and there I laid aside my measuring stick of perfection and the insecurities that came with comparing myself to other moms. And I felt free. I was held to no one's standard but my own.
Over time I began to see my perceived weaknesses as strengths:
*I am not the most flexible mom in the world, but give me a tad bit of notice and ample time to freak out over my newly rearranged schedule, and I'll happily change what I'm doing.
*I don't always have an organized devotional time with my kids, but I pray mightily for them every day when I am on my treadmill. {And their spouses and children and on and on...}
*I may not always keep my mouth closed tight when facing stressful situations, but I am good at apologizing and asking for forgiveness from my kids.
*I may not be able to sew a stitch, but I know a certain Gram who happily stitches away.
* I love to bake... and that alone should be enough, don't you think??
There is much room for growth in my parenting - God and I work on it daily. But I have learned to embrace the perfectly imperfect me.
And while I still fall short at times, I have finally accepted that being me, fully me, as the mom I am, is far better than trying to be an imitation of someone else. I have the qualities my kids need in their mother. Plain and simple. I am enough.
Every morning I lift a prayer to the heavens and ask God to help me be the best mom I can be to my kids. Present, attentive, flexible and carrying a plate of cookies {that always helps!} How about you? Ever struggled trying to be something you are not? At home? In the work place? I'd love to talk it over here if you'll share!
Blessings,
{K}
Daily
No comments:
Post a Comment