The Measure of a Mom

I don't ever expect to get any medals for being Mom of the Year. Kate still takes a bottle (only) and won't eat table food. Carson can't get the hang of sleeping through the night. They probably won't learn their ABCs at a remarkably young age either.That's ok. I've learned just recently not to measure my kids to other kids. My kids are special and unique in every sense of the word. I've stopped reading those developmental milestone emails that I signed up for. I was tired of making my kids a check list. You know, at 4 months is putting hands together- check, at 6 months is batting at objects- check, at 15 months is doing the family tax returns-check! I was obsessed with the "milestones."I was elated when my kids would reach them and bummed when they didn't. Then I came to the realization that most Moms do. Who cares? These kids are special and unique in their own God given way. I stopped measuring and started enjoying them.
There is another type of measuring I used to do.It is way more self defeating than measuring my kids. Here it is... I used to measure myself against other Moms. I know you've done it to. We've all thought one Mom has it more together, is more patient with their children, has a cleaner house, better behaved children, and the list goes on and on. Why did I do this? What made me say, "I want to be just like her." Why didn't I say, "I want to be the Mom God wants me to be." I've started saying that very thing over and over to myself and you know what? The comparisons to other Moms just fall away. God has opened my eyes. You know that Mom that you think has it all together? Chances are she was begging God for some sanity this morning when her 2 year old threw her 3rd temper tantrum of the day. And the Mom who is patient with her children? She just lost it when her 4 year old insisted that he wear his cowboy boots for the 5th day in a row. Oh and the Mom who has better behaved children? Yeah, she just came away sweating from a fight to put on her little girls clothes. We are all in the same boat ladies. We're all in this together. I know it and you know it. That's why I love REAL Moms. The Moms who are ok with telling it like it is. And the great thing is that when you are real yourself, you don't judge, you don't think that Mom or child is imperfect. You just know she is doing the best she can with God's help.
I may not have the clean house, patience, or well behaved bits down but boy do I love these kids. I excel at wrapping them in huge hugs. I have mastered covering their faces in kisses. I know what makes Kate laugh and Carson smile. The rest of it will fall in to place if I put it in God's hands . God chose me to be the Mommy to Kate and Carson and although sometimes I still can't believe it, I feel so blessed. I enjoy them for who they are and I am starting to enjoy me for who I am as a Mommy. I must admit it's an endless work in progress.