How do you feel about Mother’s Day? Do you love it? Do you hate it? Why is that? Here are a few of my thoughts on Mother’s Day.
vs. 
I don’t know what your experience is on Mother’s Day, but mine goes something like this usually. Get up and get everyone ready for church. Attend church where every lesson and talk is on mothers. I know people mean well, but the message is usually something about how their mother was perfect. She was kind, patient, loving. And in the words of my 12 year old “especially the dead moms.” You are likely to hear that motherhood is the most important role of a woman. My thoughts when I compare myself to this “mom” is that I’m a failure. And that feels horrible.
But I want to write my own tribute to moms today. Moms are unique. Moms give their best and that changes from day to day. Some moms are quiet, kind, and loving 99% of the time. But I think she is the unicorn mom, and not the goal to achieve. You see some moms are loud while others are quiet. Some are super patient while others are short tempered. Some love to play with their kids while others love for their kids to entertain themselves. Some can’t stand the thought of their kids moving out while others can’t wait. Some hate being a mom most days while others love it. Some do everything for their kids while others teach them how to do everything for themselves. Some work while others stay home. Some wish they could have kids while others wish they didn’t have kids. Some moms are helicopter moms while others are free range moms. Some moms love extra curricular activities while other avoid them like the plague. Some moms are super healthy while others just want their kids to eat something. Some moms love screen time while others despise it. I could go on and on. But I won’t bore you with that.
I think you get the drift. Their is no right or wrong way to be a mom. All of these things are on a sliding scale. Every mom dots the scale in a different spot. The spot moves from moment to moment. And where your dot lands makes you the perfect mom for your kiddos. Don’t let anyone tell you that you aren’t good enough or the perfect mom. You are doing your best and even your best changes from day to day. I see you mom! Keep going! You are perfect just the way you are!
Until Next Time
-Keira
I’ve been practicing being a mom for way over 50 years and still trying to hit the sweet spot. It’s a moving target. A lot is zigging and zagging and because there are sooo many moving parts (people), I lean toward ‘family averaging’ moments…looks something like this: good moment! -oops moment! – (not so good moment) – kid misunderstood my intention moment (they are still growing, too)- I goofed moment! -Aha! A better moment. – And omigosh! 2 good moments back to back! 🙂
Life and learning are a series of moments. Moments are a series of opportunities for us and our families to learn and experience joy, yes. BUT, it is also a place for us to experience people practicing ‘getting it right’. While we are learning patience and forgiveness, our families are also learning patience and forgiveness. That suggests that there will be shortfalls. It is essential that we each have experiences that help us develop these qualities.
So, because mortality is a type of laboratory… and we know that not every experiment is a resounding success, we rededicate our efforts to continuous improvement along a pathway toward the vision and goal.
Through my 50+ years of my parenting efforts, I admit I’ve had lots of each of the aforementioned ‘moments’. Each of those moments could be interpreted differently by each person in those moments because of what our Father has taught them so far on their journey.
At the end of the day, I am grateful that God understands the errors I will likely make while I learn… and the patience, forgiveness, and boundless love He has for us. That is what keeps me keeping on.