Motherhood is a particularly special journey. It is also intensely difficult to be on call 24/7 with minimal time to rest. The rewards are there, of course, but there are times when we do not feel fully appreciated for all of our efforts. Media does not typically portray the patience, tenacity and energy it takes to be a parent. Why is that? Youthful smiling women and laughing babies typically represent motherhood in the media. Yes, this does happen but what about the difficulties and those 'bad' days. I do not see them on TV.
With just one portion of the picture shown we are left wondering what is motherhood? Is it supposed to be easy? Am I doing it wrong? We are surrounded by a variety of 'beliefs' about how the world 'should be'. For example I struggle with what makes a 'good' mother and what makes a 'bad' mother? There are numerous criteria out there for how a 'good mother' should behave. I could decide to follow all of these criteria and try to become 'the perfect mother'. The likely outcome of trying to be all of the 'good mother' criteria is that I would become so worn out from motherhood that I would be in the hospital. Is this called being there for your children?
Each of us has to decide our own criteria for what it takes to be a 'good enough' mother. What are the standards you set for yourself around being a mother? Do you become upset by others unreasonable expectations of you to be the “perfect mother”? Do you take time to nourish your own needs? When are you at your best as a mother?
It is important to remember that we, as people, are much more than mothers. We all have our own personalities, talents, skills and abilities in the world. Let us move forward in our lives toward a life filled with possibilities around who we are as mothers, women and persons.
With just one portion of the picture shown we are left wondering what is motherhood? Is it supposed to be easy? Am I doing it wrong? We are surrounded by a variety of 'beliefs' about how the world 'should be'. For example I struggle with what makes a 'good' mother and what makes a 'bad' mother? There are numerous criteria out there for how a 'good mother' should behave. I could decide to follow all of these criteria and try to become 'the perfect mother'. The likely outcome of trying to be all of the 'good mother' criteria is that I would become so worn out from motherhood that I would be in the hospital. Is this called being there for your children?
Each of us has to decide our own criteria for what it takes to be a 'good enough' mother. What are the standards you set for yourself around being a mother? Do you become upset by others unreasonable expectations of you to be the “perfect mother”? Do you take time to nourish your own needs? When are you at your best as a mother?
It is important to remember that we, as people, are much more than mothers. We all have our own personalities, talents, skills and abilities in the world. Let us move forward in our lives toward a life filled with possibilities around who we are as mothers, women and persons.
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