SPOILER ALERT!!! If you're concerned about this then answer is yes... #mothersday #parenting tweet to fellow mum
A friend and I used to write a blog together a few years ago now and this is where this post originally appeared – on Mother’s Day, 2015 (feels like last year – 2 years tops!!) Not a whole lot has changed since then when it comes to parenting and the gnawing fear of not getting it right (whatever “right” is!!). We are acutely aware of how much judgement is out there, and how it seeps into moms’ heads and hearts.
So for the day that’s in it, here it is again:
Ah, Mothers Day – a day to celebrate all that is Mother (or Mom, Mommy, Mama, Mam, Mum, or “*grunts!!” – depending on how your offspring refer to you).
We all know that parenting is one of the most demanding and difficult jobs there are – and there’s no training! (What’s that about?!). As you can imagine, there are lots of parents out there fretting, wondering if they’re doing it ‘right’.
If you’ve clicked on this you’re probably a mother (or know a mother), so we’ve devised a super-scientific questionnaire based on our collective 40 years’ personal and professional experience to help to decide whether or not you’re a ‘good’ mother.
Ready?
Here we go – be honest now!
PART 1: AM I NORMAL?
Do you collapse into tears for no apparent reason?
Do you sometimes think “ugh I hate this parenting thing and no I don’t want TO DRAW WITH YOU I HATE DRAWING I JUST WANT TO HAVE A QUIET CUP OF TEA!!!”
Do you sometimes wish you weren’t a mother?
Do you feel like your heart might explode with love?
Do you have any or all these feelings – sometimes all of them in the space of 5 minutes – on most days?
If you are Normal, proceed to part 2:
PART 2: IS NORMAL GOOD ENOUGH?
1: Do you choose to parent despite often having these thoughts and feelings?
2: Do you do your best, knowing that your best varies from day to day?3: Do you take steps to get help or help yourself if any of the negative feelings overwhelm you (that is, they are the major or only feeling or thought you have for a prolonged period of time)? (And yes, reading counts)
If the answer is Yes to the above questions then:
Yes!
You are a good enough mother!
Time to celebrate you! 😉
And as a final greeting to you all:
In the mood for reading more now?
Here’s a little list of other bits and pieces I wrote on mothering – nostalgia for me really. I found them as I was wondering what to post this year!
Here we go:
One thought on “Are you a good enough Mother?”