Posted by peskypippi | Posted in Celebrations, Childrearing, Family, Mothering, Traditions | Posted on 03-11-2011
Tags: childrearing, families, family, mother, mothering, over-achieving, perfectionist, Super Mom, Supermom
Moms are the heart and soul of the family. Remember that.
No pressure! In our perfectionist, over-achieving attempt to be Super Moms, something’s gotta give. I am learning this.
Like many mothers, I care (maybe too much) about my family. I strive to parent and raise my children properly. I work outside of the home and give my 100% brain power to be successful in my job. I am a good enough wife who really can make incredible gravy. Oh, and I’ve been told that my banana bread could be served to angels. I am the organizer and planner of family activities and celebrations.
Just yesterday, I had three conversations with three different friends. Here is how the conversations went:
- One dear friend has a newborn and is returning to work. She has four other children. We talked about the pressures we put on ourselves to do the right things and how we put family first, before ourselves. Always.
- Another friend was telling me about the amazing birthday party she is throwing for her daughter. She says she is not a half-assed mother. I know this because I do the same thing. And to use the same metaphor, my mothering is an ass the size of a truck. Kids are only young once, so why not make a memorable birthday party?
- Finally, a third friend, who is a new mother, and I were talking about over caring and how sometimes, maybe, we need to care a little less. Or maybe, it’s really that we need to care a little bit more about ourselves.
So, what is the something’s-gotta-give I’m referring to in my life? Housework. When you visit my house and take your shoes off, I cannot promise that you will leave with your socks clean. Hey, I have a dog that sheds and kids that eat like dogs.
Instead, I focus my time and energy and doing the little things–and the big things–to make happy, nurturing, and enriched lives for my children. My youngest son’s picture he drew of his favorite things is proof of this: family picnics and baking cookies with Mom.
We, Moms, are helping to guide, support, and make positive memories for our children. No pressure.
