I recently read somewhere that “Having children means having our hearts walk around outside of our bodies.” since I became mother I learnt so much but what I keep for most valuable lesson is when we have children, we don’t know are we good enough? What I keep doing is reminding myself there is no such things as a good mother. There is only good enough mother. Even if you try to muster every aspect of motherhood, you breastfeed, you go all organic and fresh, you spend all day on the rug with them, playing cars and trains, dolls and blocks, teaching them numbers, letters, shapes and on..and on. Again you will fail, you will always try your best but never be the best. Just good enough. And I’m happy with that. As mother I try to reflect back to my doings and my thoughts.
We do try every morning to do the best we can, love the biggest love we’ve got, pay as much attention as we can muster, keep smiling all day, give our inevitable lack of sleep and overwhelm feelings. In the end there is only so much we can do to protect them. Over past six months I looked for ”honest barometer” to test myself and came to this daily questions: How much did I enjoy my child today? How much my own heart fill up with love?
And then If I go to bed smiling at something she did or some new sound she made, secure in myself that I fed her, bath her, warm her and loved her, I call it a good day.
In fact, I might even call myself a good mother.
What about you? Please share your thoughts, I would love to hear them?
Happy Mother’s Day to all lovely moms out there 😉
L xxx
16 Comments
Stacy
So true, Leila. I’m a big fan of Charlotte Mason who says we need to make sure our kids have three things each day: 1) Something to love. 2) Something to do. 3) Something to think about. If I can check off those three things every day, I’m doing alright!
MLK123
So true Stacy, love your thoughts.
Abbie
Happy Mother’s Day to you! I love this simple and important way to view ourselves as mothers. Thank you!
MLK123
Thank you Abbie.
patricia
I have recently decided that a good enough mother is okay! The more I try to be the image of perfection the more I fail. I had too search for the mother I could succeed at and still raise my child the way I believe! That has us both happier though we are all human and will fail lots! Thanks for the great thoughts!
MLK123
Totally true Patricia, thanks for your comment.
Vivianna
I’m curious is the “honest barometer” a physical or virtual test or is that just what you call looking back at your day? Anywho, I loved this. We have to be truthful about where we fall & love ourselves when we feel we fall short. There is always a new day to be good enough. <3
MLK123
More like looking back at my day. Thanks Vivianna.
Stacy
Love this reminder! I used to get so down about the rough days. But now when I’m at my wits end, I think about my kids amazing accomplishments and and the positive things I hear from their teachers or other parents, and I tell myself I must be doing something right!
MLK123
I’m looking forward to it when she grows…Thanks Stacy!
Erin
Such great thoughts! I agree – there is such a learning curve with motherhood (and these wondrous little ones are always changing). . . loving them and being present to them are the most important things, in my estimation. Everything else is just icing on the cake.
Happy Mother’s Day!
MLK123
Totally agree Erin, love and present to them beyond everything! Thank you!
Cassie
Nice post! Agree, we can only take it day by day and do the best we can 🙂
MLK123
Thank you Cassie x
Meredith
Love this! Honestly, I have never been a huge worrier when it comes to being a good mother. I love my son, and every night I try to think of the good things that have happened in the day. It is so easy to think about the bad (could I have played with him more, is he learning his colors ok, did he hear my scream a bad word when I hurt my thumb), but at the end of the day we are raising little humans and the fact that we care enough to worry is enough for me! Love the post!
MLK123
So true Meredith! Thank you!