Let’s be real: motherhood is hard. It’s full of joyful moments, sure, but it’s also full of struggle – physical struggle, mental struggle, emotional struggle. In order to get through it, it’s important to have a great support system in place in the way of family, but also to affirm yourself along the way. Here are 10 REAL affirmations to moms.
Sleep is Overrated
From the time you welcome your baby into the world and stay up all night cluster feeding, to the time you’re laying in bed at night, wide awake and worried because it’s his first night in a college dorm – you learn that you can function on a lot less sleep than you thought you ever needed.
They’ll Remember the Time, Not the Mess
Your house is a mess, yes. Guess what – it’s okay. Good, even. If the kitchen is a mess after dinner, it means that you’re doing something else with your time: spending time with your family. Post-dinner bath times and snuggles is what they’ll remember (and what you’ll want to remember) years down the road. Clean house? Not important.
Days are Long, Years are Short
You look down – your shirt is inside out and your socks don’t match. The only way you know the time of day is by recognizing that your oldest is asleep, and that falls between 2 and 4 o’clock in the afternoon. You don’t know what day it is, but you know you have probably 20 more minutes before he wakes back up and chaos commences. Breathe, mom. Peak into the room where he’s asleep: it’ll all be over too fast.
She’ll Thank You for That One Day
Discipline is hard, but it’s so important! It is what it is. Just keep in mind that she’ll utter the words, “Thanks, mom” one day, when she understands how her choice in friends determined so much of her future; how the way she dressed said so much about her character and self esteem… things that teenagers don’t get in the heat of the moment.
You’ll Thank Yourself for That Later
You don’t always want to lay the hammer, and sometimes you’re convinced it’s just not necessary. Especially in those younger years… was that tantrum really that big of a deal? Because you’re tired of the fight. Stay with it. Show grace, but as long as they’re learning the lessons early on, they’ll be a lot easier to deal with later, and you’ll definitely thank yourself in the long run.
Choose Not to Stress Out, Choose to Manage Blessings
Stress factors are non-negotiable’s when it comes to motherhood. They’re always going to be there in some way, shape or form. The only negotiable? How you handle it. For your own sanity (and the sanities of those around you) – choose to view those stressors as blessings: you’re managing blessings, not stressing out.
Small Moments Matter
Chances are your days are full of tiny moments that butt right up to one another: diaper changes and snack time, play time and reading before nap time. Very rarely do you have a big moment that takes you away from the routine. Those small moments are what makes up these years, they’re what your child will remember. Make them count, be fully present.
When All Else Fails, Count Your Blessings
You will fall apart; there will be many, many days that end in tears. There will be days where you consider booking a one way flight (for one) to Fiji. On those days, stop what you’re doing, and count your blessings. Write them down, one by one, and think on each of them. You’ll find that it’s not really that bad.
Progress over Perfection
Anything you do – anything at all – you need to remind yourself that it’s about progress, not perfection. Don’t compare your parenting to other moms, don’t compare your body to other bodies, don’t compare your children to other children. Consider what you want to be better, and make goals toward it. In your mind, at all times, cite the words “progress, not perfection”. If your goal is perfection, you’ll never reach it.
Purpose over Perfection
Likewise, in everything you do, know that purpose is more important than perfection. It’s why you let your house stay dirty for the sake of spending time with your kids; it’s why you choose to ditch that perfect school attendance in favor of a skip day with your oldest. Life’s all about purpose, not being perfect. Embrace that as a mom, or you’ll be missing out in a major way.
