Somewhere along the way, we have gotten this notion that motherhood always needs to be fun and exciting. Maybe it’s social media highlight reels or picture-perfect Pinterest activities, I am not sure—but this expectation is unrealistic. It’s false. It’s impossible, really.
If motherhood has you feeling defeated today, I just want to affirm something for you right now. Whether you see someone’s perfect Facebook or Instagram photos, hear a story from a friend, or whatever the case maybe be, and you think to yourself, I’m not doing this well enough . . . sister, not everyone is having a blast every second of parenting.
Let me say it again . . .
You don’t have to always have fun while parenting to be the best mom you can be for your kids.
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You don’t need to always be chipper and creative, and full of excitement.
If we are being honest, while necessary, some parts of motherhood just aren’t that fun.
Some parts of motherhood, they are very unlikely to be reflected upon while reminiscing. I will never look back and say I wished I had changed a few more years of diapers. That’s OK.
And when it comes to reminiscing, it is true that hindsight is 20/20. Because even when we give our all, we will look back and give ourselves grief for that time we forgot that thing or became overwhelmed when, at the moment, it was all we had to give. Time can be a thief that way, stealing little moments, making us think twice about them even when we are soaking it up.
Other times, it’s just plain necessary to be a teacher and example for our children, and have serious and hard conversations that we probably do not want to have, but know it’s what is best to help them learn and be good humans.
When you sit down at the end of the day, and you think to yourself, was I present enough, joyful enough, intentional enough . . . I want you to ask yourself another question—by just thinking these thoughts, is it possible I’m already performing with all I have, and sometimes all I have today is different than yesterday?
Raising people is not for the faint of heart.
It’s messy and complicated and beautiful and tough. We are all learning. It isn’t meant to be wrapped up neatly with a bow on top. That’s just not how real life works.
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Give yourself some grace. Find other parents with whom you can share the real while still cheering each other on in the fun times so you truly know you are not alone.
Maybe you didn’t rock out in the car together today like you did yesterday. Maybe it just took everything to get everyone into the car and out the door. Stop, and just watch those humans for a moment. They love the heck out of you. No one is picking that apart but you.
It’s isn’t always fun, but it’s always worth it, and you’re doing better than you think you are momma.