I’m not that mom
I once read an article in which the writer was describing his mother. He commented that she never raised her voice at her kids. I instantly thought, “Wow, I’m not that mom.” I used to be a preschool teacher and then an elementary school teacher. I have a loud voice and its decibel level is tied to the number of bad decisions my kids make each day, or each hour. I have a boat load of kids. You get the picture.
I’m not that “cook with me” mom
Food blogs sometimes have pictures of moms joyfully cooking with their kids. They talk about how much they love having their kids in the kitchen with them. I say aloud, “I’m not that mom.” If everyone in my family is home, I churn out 30 plates of food a day. I’m less celebrity chef and more cafeteria lady, minus the hairnet. I realize other mega moms cook with their kids, but for me it’s my sad version of “me time.” I can actually think my own thoughts sometimes for more than 10 minutes.
I’m not that “nature walk” mom
I admire those moms that embrace the Charlotte Mason style of homeschooling. Pinterest is full of posts of moms taking their kids on daily nature walks to have them sketch what they see. I honestly love the idea of it all, but that’s not me. I enjoy taking the kids on hikes periodically, but their “daily nature walks” are excursions to the backyard to jump on the trampoline. We have a pool, so they can pretend they’re walking around a lake. It encourages creativity.
I’m not that fashionable mom
I’d love to look like those fashionable moms you see at the park, sipping their Starbucks. I’ve seen a number of Youtube mamas that have lots of kids and still manage to put on a fully made face, lipstick and all. They also show off their cute clothes and trendy jewelry. Uh me, not so much. If it takes more than five minutes for me to “put on my face,” I’ll go faceless. Foundation for me is what is under my house. Jeans are my uniform. Because I need orthotics, I can’t wear cute “strappy sandals” or pointed toe heels. Shoes must be sensible, which does indeed mean boring.
What mom am I?
So if I’m not any of those moms, what mom am I? I’m the mom who isn’t perfect. I’m the mom who makes mistakes. I’m the mom who, if she met a magic genie, would ask for more time in the day, two more hands, and an air fryer. I’m the mom who heard dark chocolate is good for you, overgeneralized, and now views chocolate as another food group.
Above all, I’m the mom who believes that her life circumstances have been uniquely designed for her by a loving Creator. I know I am given daily, the grace and mercy I need to deal with every part of my day (yes, even refereeing the fight over who had the spoon with the green and white stripes first). I believe Lamentations 3:22-23 that tells me that, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” I am that mom.
If you’re interested in more of my reflections and confessions, you can read:
The Sovereignty of God Explained by an eight-year-old
The Homeschool Mom’s “to don’t” list