I often picture other mothers effortlessly whipping up three-course meals that check all the boxes on the food pyramid for their little ones—three times a day. Meanwhile, I’m over here microwaving scrambled eggs (yep, three times a day).
I imagine these other moms having serene, 30-minute diaper change sessions, gently guiding their toddlers while they chat. In reality, I’m wrestling with my child, praying he doesn’t smear poop on my face as I rush to diaper him before we dash out the door for our inevitable late arrival to the Mommy and Me class.
I envision these mothers removing the television from their homes as soon as they discover they’re expecting. Meanwhile, I’m scrambling to find the Netflix Kids app, desperate for two uninterrupted minutes to scrub scrambled egg remnants out of the carpet—and my hair.
I see other moms bending the laws of time, managing to complete laundry, bathing, feeding, watering (themselves and their kids), tidying the house, and sharing plenty of laughter—all in a single day. I, on the other hand, am spreading our basic needs out over a week (except for laughter—we definitely excel in that area).
I picture these supermoms preparing educational art projects for their kids daily. My idea of art? Arranging our spaghetti (with a side of microwaved eggs) into abstract shapes during dinner feels like a sufficient creative outlet.
I imagine them swiftly tackling all 55 of their emails in one hour and shutting down the computer for the day. While I’m juggling my phone, laptop, or tablet 367 times just to respond to the 16 emails languishing in my inbox.
I envision these moms leaving insightful, humorous posts in their online mom groups. I’m just grateful if I can muster a quick “Me too!” or “That stinks!” in response.
I see other mothers snapping adorable holiday card photos in June, pre-ordering them by September, and mailing them out with a charming “Year in Review” letter by November 29th. I’m the one posting a “Happy Holidays” photo of my child on Facebook on January 3rd, just hoping that all the relatives get the memo.
I picture these moms drafting the next great American novel or blog during their child’s three-hour nap. Meanwhile, I’m struggling to type out a single sentence while my kid kicks my hand and bites my arm. (I started this two weeks ago!)
I envision other mothers being incredibly forgiving of my lazy parenting moments. Yet, as I share a hearty laugh with my little one, I remind myself that it’s all part of the journey, and hey, mama, we’re doing just fine.
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Summary:
This piece humorously contrasts the idealized image of perfect motherhood with the chaotic reality many mothers face. It highlights common struggles and reassures moms that they are not alone in their journey. Ultimately, it encourages laughter and acceptance amidst the challenges of parenting.