Celebrating the Small Wins
So... Many of us have come to understand that parenting and specifically Motherhood is a marathon. The moment we step into mothering, we enter a literal lifelong journey with our children and with ourselves. The path is littered with trials, triumphs, obstacles, growth and pain.
The constant whirlwind that is life when you are a mother can be monotonous and even exhausting. But there are still wins.
Honestly, as a mother of 4, I can find myself engulfed by the many jobs I take on to make sure our home and the kids' lives run smoothly. Sometimes it is difficult to find joy in a role that is neverending and oftentimes thankless... I imagine there are many other moms that can relate.
I say all that to say this... We live in a society that promotes a picture perfect image of successful motherhood. One where everyone is perfectly manicured in matching outfits with homes from a magazine cover. But in reality, kids come with a built in mess. They are moody and need constant reassurance. They have 3 things on the world that they like and the list changes every 6 weeks. Getting ready for school alone is often a drowsy battle and no one ever knows what we should eat for dinner. That doesn't even account for the fact that mothers are people too. Aside from being a mother, we are a person that has good and bad days. We have hobbies and interests and careers and other complex relationships outside of our children.
Sometimes it can feel like being a mom means taking one step forward and three steps back. There is always something more left to do at the end of the day...
I know that doesn't exactly sound encouraging. But, hear me out.
Leave it. Leave it undone.
Instead of keeping a running tab of what you did not accomplish, take a moment to celebrate what you did accomplish.
And let's be real, most days our wins are small. They are small but they are so valuable. Take a moment to celebrate getting out of the house in time to stop for a coffee. Celebrate making your child laugh by just being yourself. Celebrate taking a good shower. You know the one where you detangle your hair, do your FULL skincare routine and hit them heels with a pumice stone all in one shot. Give yourself credit for figuring out dinner or making time to check-in with your girlfriend you wish you saw more of. Celebrate the corny slow dance you had with your husband in the kitchen or the doughnut you ate in peace (without sharing) in the car before you went in the house...
Think of it as a highlight reel.
We do a lot of work and make a lot of sacrifices as moms. Just keep note of the highlights. Allow yourself room to celebrate the things that keep you in the game... the things that when you look back, make it all worth it.