For as long as I can remember, I’ve always imagined myself in a world filled with lots of little kids. I was perfectly happy, I never questioned anything—it just seemed so easy!
Wrong!!!
Of course, ever since I became a mom, I’ve been more than fulfilled. I’ve experienced those moments when you feel like you’re floating on a cloud, when you’re in perfect harmony with that precious little one and nothing else matters.
And bam!
Knock, knock—reality is knocking at the door. Being a mom isn’t as natural as it seemed. Babies definitely don’t come into the world with an instruction manual slung over their shoulders! Before you know it, you feel helpless, at a loss—anything but up to the task. And we wonder if we’re capable, if we deserve our prestigious title of “mom.”
Then, society (across the board—moms and non-moms alike) takes great pleasure in reminding us that we’re wrong, that we’re not good enough, that we could have done better. In public, our every move is observed, scrutinized, and judged by Mr. and Mrs. Everyone. Everyone seems to be waiting for us to make a mistake. Because, as everyone knows, we moms need a little input from everyone and anyone, just to do our “job” better.
No, but when it gets to the point where we dread having to step in and correct our children in public for fear of being judged, maybe that’s a sign there’s a little problem somewhere.
Tell me, what makes a good mom?
In theory, everyone seems to know, but in practice, who really knows how to do it?
What if the “perfect mom” isn’t so perfect after all? What if all the doubts, uncertainties, moments of panic, and discouragement were normal? What if mistakes and the occasional lapse were just part of the “game” and were accepted? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
As moms, we could help each other out, right? Being a mom isn’t easy, and it doesn’t come naturally. In fact, I believe it’s something you learn. We all learn to be the right mom for our child—at our own pace and in our own way. It’s a long-term process—a journey fraught with pitfalls and doubts. No mom needs to be judged—or stressed out by what others think—on top of everything else.
If you, too, don’t know the recipe, but you believe that together we can whip up the most mouthwatering feast, we’re meant to get along! Today, I invite you to reach out to the mom next to you. A pat on the back is worth its weight in gold for a mom who’s a little—or a lot—at the end of her rope.
Because there’s no such thing as a perfect mom—just lots of special, out-of-this-world, amazing moms. No matter how hard we try, we’ll always be judged, but it’s in the eyes of our loved ones that we’ll find the answer. The ultimate judgment. And then, we let go of our fears, uncertainties, and discouragement, and return to our little cloud for just a moment.
Marie-Christine