Becoming a mom has changed me in more ways than I can list.
I have realized that I am strongly opinionated on matters that I never even knew existed before; I have discovered that there truly is no "right way" to parent; I have found out that unsolicited advice spills from my mouth more than it should; and so much more.
But one thing I have yet to discover is how to stop comparing myself to other moms. I suppose I have had my fair share of self-confidence road blocks growing up and when I became pregnant with my daughter I figured that I had found my place: I was going to be the best mom anyone has ever seen. However, saying I'm going to be the best at something with so many variables is next to impossible (I've since found out). There are days when my kids stay in their pajamas and don't get their hair brushed. There are days when I feel like I do nothing but yell and then apologize for yelling. And there are certainly days that I feel like I need 10 extra arms and another 24 hours in a day to get done what I had on my to-do list. At the end of each day I assess my progress as a mother to decide if I succeeded or not in comparison to the other moms that surround me. "She never has dishes laying around her kitchen when I visit." "Her kids are always so well dressed." "At least my kid isn't as picky as hers." "blah blah blah."
When did it become a win/lose game to be a mom?
We need to stop sizing ourselves up with our friends, and our friends' parents, and our sisters, and our bible study, and our co-workers!
God did not design us all to be the same woman so why would he design us all to be the same mom and have us mimic our parenting?
Sure, there are families that I would like to model my parenting after because I see where they are now and I want my family to look somewhat like theirs someday. But I can't and won't make exactly the same choices that they made. My family will stay my family for it's quirky and unique reasons.
For better or for worse, I will continue trying to be the best mom that I can be and give myself a little grace. Just as God grants me grace each and every day when I continue to mess up. I am not perfect. (Who is?) But I am capable of waking up each day and doing my best for my kids.
What do you struggle with when it comes to comparing yourself to other families?
