When I became a Mom, I was so completely in love with my new little baby. I finally felt like I was fulfilling my true calling in life. I stayed awake for 48 hours staring at this perfect little being, in awe that he was actually mine! My whole life revolved around him and I was going to try my very best! Our little family was going to have the perfect life together.

I would teach my little one everything and give him every opportunity. I was going to play on the floor with him every day, sing to him, bake cookies, finger paint, read books, take him to the park, dress him perfectly, and spend every waking minute staring at him growing and developing— watching and documenting every tiny little milestone. Like I said, it was going to be perfect. I was going to do all of this every day… while simultaneously doing the laundry and the dishes, cooking healthy and well balanced meals, baking bread for the neighbors, while magnifying my church callings, and changing poopy diapers and blow outs, AND exercising, and budgeting. And still find time to volunteer and give blood, and make crafts for fun.

I was NEVER going to get mad at my sweet little man. He was going to be perfect and I wouldn’t have to discipline him at all.

PERFECT.

Well, it’s been 6 1/2 years since I became a mom. I can honestly say that I have given my darnedest to this sweet little man who is now 6 going on 16… and his little sister and little brother. They are my world. I have tried tirelessly and tiredly to be the mother I thought I would be from the beginning. I have done all of it, imperfectly, but I have done it.

Many moms, including myself, hold themselves to an IMPOSSIBLE standard. The Pinterest generation that wants the picture perfect EVERYTHING all the time. And then you wake up one day and realize… it’s not possible. That was hard for me.

I love every minute I have with my kids. They don’t listen to me, they fight, they often won’t clean up their messes, they get too tired, hungry, unreasonable, they lie sometimes, they sneak things that they shouldn’t, they take toys from other peoples perfectly behaved kids, they love ramen noodles more than most of the things that I cook for them.

I am trying to be the perfect mother. I get mad, yell more than I should, whine to my husband about all the sticky stuff that I can’t get off of my always squeaky clean floors, cringe when a kid stains a brand new shirt, love it when I find stale string cheese in their beds, smile at the marks of blue and pink toothpaste all over their bathroom sink, and dried pee on the toilet seats… all while being buried in laundry that smells and I can barely fold and put away completely to save my life!!!

I really do try to do everything for them, but stuff happens. I’m grateful that they love me anyway. And I am glad that they don’t care about all the ‘other’ stuff. They just care about me and having fun. That is what we do. My house is a mess 85% of the time– and that’s just how it is. Have you ever tried cleaning up during a tornado? That’s about what it’s like, but I have three.

Just tell yourself…

Being a mom is the greatest thing I can do with my life, my time, my mind, everything.  Nothing else can compare.

I am the perfect mom for my kids, flaws and all.

Here’s to you moms for trying your best! Don’t worry about all of the ‘extra’ stuff so much.

But here is what is most important to teach our kids….

Teach them to pray while they are young. Read to them from the scriptures even though they may not understand all that you read. Teach them to pay tithes and offerings on the first money they ever receive. Let this practice become a habit in their lives. Teach your sons to honor womanhood. Teach your daughters to walk in virtue. Accept responsibility in church, and trust in the Lord to make you equal to any call you may receive… Encourage your children to read books more and watch television less.

It is the home that produces the nursery stock of generations. I hope that you mothers will realize that when all is said and done, you have no more compelling responsibility, nor any laden with greater rewards, than the nurture you give your children in an environment of security, peace, companionship, love, and motivation to grow and do well.

-Gordon B. Hinckley

 

A family that runs together, stays together!

XOXO Laura