Here’s To You Mamas

Too often I find myself focusing on the stuff I’ve done wrong as a mom than the stuff I’m doing right.  It’s so much easier to focus on the negatives, especially when you’re able to sit behind your phone or computer and see how every other mom is outperforming you.  I’ll see photos of a kid sleeping in their bed and immediately think how I’m screwing up because Charlotte still sleeps with me, instead of focusing on the fact that she is actually sleeping instead of waking up 10 times a night.  I’ll see comments on this food group I’m a member of on Facebook about how someone’s two year old is just loving a chicken curry soup while I’m feeding mine her third bowl of macaroni and cheese.  But what I forget is that every mom is fighting a battle with their kid that may be different from my own.  And maybe we all need to just focus on the stuff that’s actually going right in our crazy lives and give ourselves a break.

So here’s to you, mamas.  Give yourself a pat on the back for keeping your kids alive.  Here’s to you for waking up every time they need you, whether it be for a bottle or just because they’re scared.  Here’s to you for buying the groceries, making the dinner and keeping your house in some semblance of working order.  Here’s to you for holding down a full time job at work and at home.  Or for somehow staying home with your kids all day long without any breaks and managing to keep a smile on your face.  Here’s to you for making doctor appointments and going to soccer practice or mommy and me groups.  Here’s to you for drinking lukewarm coffee every morning because we no longer have the time to sit and enjoy a hot cup.  Here’s to you for knowing that it’s totally okay and perfectly acceptable to complain about your kids.  We love them, but we don’t always have to like them.  Here’s to knowing that it’s acceptable to roll your eyes every time someone says “enjoy it now, because it goes by so fast.”  We know it goes by so fast and sometimes, we’d like for this phase to go a little faster, thank you very much.  But it’s also okay to be sad with the knowledge that the days are long but the years are short.

Here’s to you, mamas, for always putting everyone else before yourself.  Even if you think you’re failing, you’re doing the best job you can do.  Honestly, as long as you aren’t letting your kids eat Tide Pods, I think you’re succeeding a lot more than you realize.