I said this to one of my friends this week. Obviously, I was being at least partially facetious, since #1, I was chatting online instead of playing with my kids (a major problem for me, sadly) and #2, the full transcript of that moment is as follows:
I’m such a good mom
I just fed Rebecca a cheeto
Oddly enough, however, I really did feel like a good mom. Not for feeding Rebecca a cheeto (I’m not a fan myself, even though they are “guaranteed fresh” and “made with all natural oil,” as the package states), or for neglecting my kids, but for allowing myself to be an imperfect mother for a minute.
So much of the time, we mothers are quick to judge ourselves. Every time we don’t give our children what they want (even when we know it’s for the best) or aren’t 157% attentive to their needs, we feel as though we’re mean, bad, and ten kinds of terrible. If we don’t keep up on the latest trends—from Baby Gap to Baby Einstein, from Gerber brain-friendly organic finger foods to gerbera daisy hairclips to match every single outfit she owns—we’re bad mothers.
Speaking of hairclips, Rebecca wore one in her hair for the first time this month! Stinkin adorable.
So you know what? I’m going to let my baby have one cheeto. Odds are pretty low that either of our immortal souls hang in the balance, so I think I’m going to forgive myself for letting her consume 14 mg of sodium.
What have you learned to forgive yourself for? What do you struggle with forgiving yourself for? Do you consider yourself a good mother?
4 replies on “I am such a good mom”
This is a toughie. I have completely forgiven myself for tearing my screaming, hysterical 3 year old off me and putting him in the pool for swimming lessons. It was worth it and he had fun overall.
I struggle with feeling like I don’t spend enough time down on the floor playing with my kids. I struggle with withholding snacks when I’m teaching the 3 year old that he needs to eat meals. I feel hypocritical when I tell him he can’t have any more computer time even though I’m on the computer. I worry he’s not learning enough.
The typical mom guilt, I guess. I try to let it go and some days are better than others. Some days I feel like a better mom, some days I am a better mom, but every day I am the mom and I think I’m doing a pretty good job.
My first daughter didn’t see a piece of junk food until Halloween when she was 18 months old. Just shy of 2 years of age, our second daughter earned herself the nickname “Cheetoh Bandito.”
Eh, you can’t win ’em all!
@Shannon—I feel the same way! I need to play more on the floor with my kids.
@Megan—Isn’t it always the way? I was shocked when my mom fed Hayden root beer at six months; I gave Rebecca a lollipop at 3 months.
I, too, am not the floor playing mom. But lately I have been trying to focus on the things I am doing right as a mother as opposed to all the things I feel like I am doing wrong. That has helped me be a better mother in general because I am in a kinder and more loving mood 🙂 !!