A Good Mother

I have a confession to make...

I'm a good mother.

It's not as funny to read about, or as juicy, but it's honest.   I have a great home, a great marriage and great kids.   I don't remind myself often enough, but my kids are great kids because I'm a great mother.

There are days where I cry for no reason.  Days where I wonder how I can handle all of this responsiblity for even one more hour.  In the midst of that chaos it never fails that one of my children will come and pat me on the back and offer to help.  Just when I think I can't take anymore, I get to see where all of my hard work goes.   There is no job in the world with more at stake, but there's also no other job in the world where you get to witness the amazing result day to day or even hour to hour.

When I get into bed at night and Buzz Lightyear stabs me in the back or I find a squished up granola bar in the bottom of my purse, I roll my eyes and laugh.  Secretly though, I'm smiling because it's a reminder of this life that I pretend to shrug off as impossible turmoil, but really do adore so much.  Some days are so tough that I sing in my head "You could have been a lawyer or a doctor, but you're here wiping the butt of a child wearing Spiderman underpants", but I just can't imagine myself going any other way.

If Moms complain about how hard they have it or how tough it is, they're made out to be martyrs begging for sympathy.   Really though, can you think of anything in life more self-sacrificing?  I think we're entitled to the occasional wallow or meltdown.  We do it because we love it, even if we don't always like it.

I'm a good mother because I put everything I have into it and I know I'm not alone.  I'm a good mother because I let my kids read a story fifty times before they get bored.  I'm a good mother because I trip into the kitchen at 3am to get kitchen water for a child who hates it from the bathroom tap.  I'm a good mother because I spend time away from them, working on myself, my body and my relationships with friends.  I'm a good mother because I expect a lot from my children and they rarely let me down - and I let them know that.  I'm not crafty or extremely creative, they can actually teach me a thing or two, but I'm freaking silly and I make my kids laugh.  I tease them and compete with them and show them that I can be pretty dorky a lot of the time.  I sing to the car radio and they tell me I'm breaking their ears and they love it.

I like to sit here and tell you that I don't know how I got here. That I had different plans for myself that went slightly awry, but that's not really true.  I was meant to be here and I was meant to be good at it.  I'm not always going to be here, stuck in the trenches of childhood.  My future holds a lot of promise and I'm really looking forward to it.  In the meantime, this is my job and I'm having a huge amount of fun ... most days. Okay, most hours.

On Mother's Day it's hard not to be cliche or say things that haven't been said repeatedly, but I just wanted to make that point.  I'm a good mother.

And so are you.

Comments

[Angel]

Happy Mother's Day (((Chantal)))) You are an *awesome* mom!

[lyns]

Happy Mothers day...and I just wanted to tell you that so much of who you share here has helped me to know that I too am a good mom!!! Thanks for being real and open...thanks for sharing the nitty gritty... motherhood is awesome and I wouldn't want it anyother way...but its not always "Little House" perfect and you give us all the inside scoop!!! Have a great day and a great trip... I won't be around for awhile...headed to Spain and London for two weeks!!! xo Lyns

[Mrs. Schmitty]

A perfect post! Thanks for the reminder that though I'm not perfect, I'm perfect enough!

[Jaime]

Happy Mothers Day! You are a great mom and you should be proud. Why do you think I wanted you to sit my kids... let me know if you ever change your mind ;)

[ali]

great post, Chantal.
you really are a great mom. and hot to boot...which always helps. he. just kidding. happy mother's day!

[Stu Mark]

Hey, that was inspiring. I need to read that to myself in the mornings.

By the way, if you haven't noticed yet, this post has been nominated for Hot Stuff Of The Week over at GNMParents. You deserve it, and then some!

[Heather]

What a great post! You've put so many of my thoughts on motherhood into one place. Wonderful!

[The Aitch]

Such a good post and so true for all of us!

[Cristina]

Hi Chantal,

This post got me started on my own. Thanks for writing about it. I think you're a fantastic mom and one of my internet heroes. http://delbueno.net/index.php/site/being_a_good_mother_is_hard/

[zoom!]

I love that you get kitchen water for the child who hates bathroom water. Even without all the other stuff, you'd be a great mom just for that alone.