I once was the perfect Mother with a perfect child. He ate all the right foods, had impeccable manners, stayed close to me, went to sleep on time without a fight, cleaned up his toys and NEVER acted like a butthead, and I of course, always left the house put together.
Then, I had my first child...
Then, I had my first child...
This idea of perfection existed when I was in my twenties, and my girlfriends started having children. Little dirty annoying children.Their kids were always causing trouble, acting out to be the center of attention, misbehaving while we tried to shop, wrecked restaurants while we tried to catch up, ruined our plans by having constant colds...
I felt bad for them. I was so sure I knew how to be a super mom, I was positive I would NEVER be, "THAT mom with THAT kid."
I felt bad for them. I was so sure I knew how to be a super mom, I was positive I would NEVER be, "THAT mom with THAT kid."
What a fool I was.
My name is, April, and I'm totally THAT mom, with THAT kid!
My name is, April, and I'm totally THAT mom, with THAT kid!
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| Credit: NickMom |
How silly of me to think children were little programmable robots that did, said and ate, exactly as they were told.
WRONG!
It turns out, parenting is hard, takes loads of patience, and is incredibly life changing.
I realize now, back in my days of childless ignorance, I had NO CLUE what children were actually like. I had no clue that babies could ONLY communicate through crying. I never imagined that toddlers needed to constantly test the world in order for it to make sense. I never imagined that five and six-year-olds, thanks to the toddler testing phase, knew everything!
I was so sure I would be this perfect, calm, polished mother, with a perfect, calm, polished child.
HA!
I am no different than the mothers I used to judge.
I have a "lively" kid, I go everywhere in Yoga pants and flip-flops, I yell at my kid in the store, I bribe him to be good with cookies, I clean up after him on a daily basis, and rarely do we leave the house on time, with everything we need. And that's OK.
WRONG!
It turns out, parenting is hard, takes loads of patience, and is incredibly life changing.
I realize now, back in my days of childless ignorance, I had NO CLUE what children were actually like. I had no clue that babies could ONLY communicate through crying. I never imagined that toddlers needed to constantly test the world in order for it to make sense. I never imagined that five and six-year-olds, thanks to the toddler testing phase, knew everything!
I was so sure I would be this perfect, calm, polished mother, with a perfect, calm, polished child.
HA!
I am no different than the mothers I used to judge.
I have a "lively" kid, I go everywhere in Yoga pants and flip-flops, I yell at my kid in the store, I bribe him to be good with cookies, I clean up after him on a daily basis, and rarely do we leave the house on time, with everything we need. And that's OK.
The only true crime in all of this, was me being a judgmental ass. Parenting is HARD! Super duper hard. And I expect being a child in a world full of mystery, limitations, rules and requirements to eat vegetables over candy, is super hard too!
Today, I am proud to be THAT mom, because it means I am a true mom. A mom who is not afraid to do what it takes to have a happy, thriving, well-behaved child; even if that means taking unconventional roads to get there.
I am THAT mom who has a messy house and car, cancels plans over fevers, lets my kid push the cart in the grocery, listens to toddler radio in the car, loves playdates, chases after my kid yelling, COME BACK HERE, OR... regardless of the venue.
I am THAT mom who let's her kid, be a kid. I let him wear two different shoes out of the house, even if one is a slipper and the other is a shoe he has outgrown, but still loves. I let him get dirty, explore the world on his own and answer his four million "why" questions on daily basis. I get frustrated, burned out, and sometimes where my hair in a pony tail for a week straight! And my house... clean, not sparkly.
I am that mom with a beautiful rambunctious healthy boy. I am that mom blessed beyond belief. I am that mom being judged by twenty-somethings who will one day too realize just how awesome and fulfilling it is to be THAT Mom.
Oh yes, I am totally THAT mom, and there is no one else in the world I would rather be.
I am THAT mom who has a messy house and car, cancels plans over fevers, lets my kid push the cart in the grocery, listens to toddler radio in the car, loves playdates, chases after my kid yelling, COME BACK HERE, OR... regardless of the venue.
I am THAT mom who let's her kid, be a kid. I let him wear two different shoes out of the house, even if one is a slipper and the other is a shoe he has outgrown, but still loves. I let him get dirty, explore the world on his own and answer his four million "why" questions on daily basis. I get frustrated, burned out, and sometimes where my hair in a pony tail for a week straight! And my house... clean, not sparkly.
I am that mom with a beautiful rambunctious healthy boy. I am that mom blessed beyond belief. I am that mom being judged by twenty-somethings who will one day too realize just how awesome and fulfilling it is to be THAT Mom.
Oh yes, I am totally THAT mom, and there is no one else in the world I would rather be.
