I consider myself a decent mom—maybe even a pretty great one—largely because I’ve intentionally set my expectations low. Both of my kids are alive (great start!), happy, healthy, and thriving in school. Beyond that, I don’t have the bandwidth to stress about everything else.
So, how do you measure up? You might just be a better mom than me if…
- Your morning greeting to your kids is a cheerful “good morning, my darling” instead of “it’s too early; go entertain yourselves.”
- Your children enjoy a nutritious, homemade breakfast every day, rather than a hurried banana and juice on the way out the door.
- You can gently brush their hair without causing a flinch.
- You manage to wash, dry, iron (do people still do that?), and put away laundry all in one day.
- You don’t stress about your kids while at work or think about work when you’re with your kids.
- Your lunch is more substantial than just leftovers from your child’s meal.
- You don’t chuckle at your child’s adorable mispronunciations (like “boobies” instead of “blueberries,” which I can’t help but find delightful).
- You willingly share chocolate treats with your kids.
- You can sit through an entire Disney movie without checking your phone or scrolling through social media.
- You take your time during bath time and have mastered the art of washing hair without a meltdown.
- Your child’s art supply cabinet is more stocked than your wine collection.
- Their artwork is carefully organized in a binder rather than randomly plastered on the fridge or tossed in the trash.
- You never run out of kid-friendly plates at dinner, avoiding the need to use Tupperware.
- When you peek into your fridge, you aren’t blinded by the shine of countless foil-wrapped leftovers that you will make your kids eat the next day.
- You never skip tooth brushing, even when it’s late and you’re just eager to get them to bed.
- You don’t do a silent victory dance five minutes after bedtime when you’re sure they’ve fallen asleep.
- You don’t dash downstairs for a glass of wine before even acknowledging your partner who just walked in.
- You actually plan your dinner in advance rather than scrambling to create something from whatever you defrosted that morning and the random items in your fridge that need to be eaten.
- Your potatoes haven’t sprouted, and your peeler is in working order.
- You use a timer for dinner instead of relying on the “it smells done” method.
- After dinner, you and your partner engage in a meaningful conversation that doesn’t involve the exchange of one-word answers.
See? I knew you were doing a great job too! For more insights about motherhood and the journey of parenting, check out this informative article on home insemination and the excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination at RMany. Also, if you’re interested in an at-home insemination kit, Make a Mom offers a fantastic selection.
In summary, motherhood is a unique journey for each of us, filled with its own ups and downs. Whether you meet all the “ideal” standards or not, remember that what truly matters is your love and dedication to your children.