I often find myself imagining other mothers whipping up three-course meals that are perfectly balanced according to the food pyramid, three times a day. Meanwhile, I’m just microwaving scrambled eggs repeatedly.
I picture these moms gently guiding their little ones through diaper changes, taking their sweet time to make it a pleasant experience. In contrast, I’m over here pleading with my child not to smear mess on my face as I rush to get a diaper on him, all while we’re late for yet another Mommy and Me class.
I envision other mothers declaring their homes a screen-free zone the moment they discover they’re expecting. Meanwhile, I’m scrambling to open the Netflix Kids app just to grab a couple of uninterrupted minutes to clean up the chaos of my day, which often includes scrubbing eggs out of both the carpet and my hair.
I imagine these moms somehow stretching time to complete laundry, bathing, cleaning, and even making time for laughter all in a single day. I, however, find myself spreading our basic needs across the week—except for laughter, which we have in abundance.
I picture other mothers preparing engaging and developmentally appropriate art projects for their kids every day. While I consider arranging our spaghetti (with a side of those microwave eggs) into fun shapes enough of a creative endeavor.
I envision these moms tackling their overflowing inboxes with thoughtful and inspiring replies, finishing it all in an hour. While I’m desperately pulling out my phone or tablet multiple times a day just to respond to the 16 emails that are piling up.
I imagine them crafting helpful, witty posts in their online mom communities. Whereas I’m grateful if I can manage a simple “Me too!” or “That Sucks!” amidst the chaos.
I envision them taking adorable holiday card photos in June, pre-ordering by September, and sending them out with an artfully worded ‘Year in Review’ letter by November. I, on the other hand, end up posting a “Happy Holidays” photo of my child on Facebook in January, desperately hoping relatives see it.
I imagine these mothers writing their next bestseller during their child’s three-hour naps. Meanwhile, I’m struggling to type a single sentence as my child kicks my hand and bites my shoulder; I’ve been working on this for two weeks.
I envision these other moms being understanding and forgiving of my parenting shortcomings. In reality, I find joy in my child’s laughter and remind myself that it’s all going to be okay.
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In summary, while other mothers may appear to have it all together, the truth is that every parent has their own struggles and triumphs. It’s important to embrace our unique journeys and enjoy the moments of laughter with our children.