Un-perfect Mom but not unfit… I have never been ordinary, regular, or the same as everyone else. And I was ALWAYS proud of that!! To me perfection is BORING! And that is most definitely not who or what I want to be.
This never became more apparent than when I became a mother. So, I pride myself on being an un-perfect mom. Yes, I said UN-PERFECT and not imperfect.
Being imperfect implies that there is a 1) possibility to be perfect and 2) desire to be perfect. And I possess neither of those, at all!!
My desire and/or role as a mother, in my opinion, is to give my children a home, food, clothes, and love. Basically, that is it! Whoa, whoa, whoa now I said basically!
I was raised by a single mother, my mom worked three jobs almost my entire childhood but she always made a home for us, gave us food and clothes, and when those needs were met my mom was able to fill every spare moment she had with love. If I could be half the woman and mother she is, she would still be twice as amazing as me.
Huge shout out to the moms who have time to do art projects, go on school field trips, buy presents more than a day before the party and wrap them, not just throw them in a gift bag. The moms who do meal planning and can do school drop off and pick up; even those stay-at-home moms and homeschool moms.
You guys are amazing, but I know I am too. I embrace being an un-perfect mom.
I will not be disappointed in myself for not doing those things, or not being able to do them. I am sick and tired of feeling like I have to try. I figure every day they have food, I’m not talking 3 square meals, I mean we eat cereal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Sometimes PB&Js. I forget something almost every day; I am the Queen of last minute. I yell out of frustration and I find some way to drop something or hurt myself daily (adding humor for my husband and children).
I would love to make a meal every night and sit at the table and eat as a family. But in my reality, my un- perfect reality…we eat on the run, miss deadlines, are late, wear dirty clothes, shower every third day, and my husband and I hardly see each other.
Only a mother understands how chaos can be beautiful.
My children are happy, we hug and kiss them at least 50 times a day, yes even the 16-year-old, and we tell them we love them at least 100 times. We also let them see us kiss, hug, hold hands, and tell each other “I love you.”
We are their example.
They have a roof over their heads and clothes on their backs. And as long as I do that, I am doing what I am supposed to. I am not giving up, I am simply deciding that Un-Perfect suits me better.
So, can we please start celebrating our mistakes, differences, shortfalls, and downfalls? I don’t want to compete with other moms, and I don’t want my children to compete with yours.
There is no prize for #1 mom, I just want my boys to happy and kind. To know that their parents believe in them. And love them with every fiber, every ounce, and every breath. Do you want to be an un-perfect mom too?
How about a Cool Mom?
All my love, Nichole
