One thing I hope readers of my blog (that haven’t met me) never think about me…
“Wow, she really has it all together.”
(I say those that haven’t met me because if you met me you’d totally know I don’t have it all together.)
It’s so easy to write about the pretty part of parenting; post the cuteness all over Instagram/Facebook/Twitter. It’s not like everyone is pulling out their iPhones during a tug of war with their kid and says, “This is cute. I’m so posting this!”
Being a parent is hard.
Blended family life is hard.
Regular life is hard.
Most days are filled with awesomeness, smiles, hugs and tears of laughter.
But there are also days when your children act like crazy people, make bad choices or break your heart. Sometimes all of those in one day. It’s so easy to reflect on your kids and wonder,
“Is this my fault? Have I totally screwed this whole mom thing up? So-and-so’s kids don’t act like this. It must be something I’m not doing right.”
It is in that moment I’m reminded…
“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
Don’t compare your kids or your experience with motherhood to others. It will make you overly critical of yourself and leave you feeling completely inadequate.
Try to take each day (or hour) at a time.
Pray.
Do the best you can.
Cry when you need to.
Pray.
Love them.
Love yourself.
Never give up.
Pray.
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P.S. Dear self, please come read this post when you need to be reminded that you’re a good mom whose heart is completely invested in this motherhood/stepmom gig and it’s ok to not have it all together.
Filed under: Blended Family Life, Kids, Motherhood Tagged: encouragement, kids, parenting, pray, strong willed child
