As I observe fellow mothers, I can’t help but picture them preparing well-balanced, three-course meals for their children multiple times a day, while I find myself resorting to microwave scrambled eggs for every meal.
I imagine other moms spending half an hour soothingly guiding their toddlers through gentle diaper changes, while I’m frantically attempting to prevent my little one from smearing mess on my face as I hurriedly fasten a diaper before we dash out the door to yet another late Mommy and Me class.
I visualize other mothers removing the television from their homes the moment they discover they are expecting, whereas I scramble to figure out how to access the Netflix Kids app just to snag a couple of uninterrupted minutes to clean up the remnants of my microwave egg catastrophe from the carpet and my hair.
I foresee other moms magically stretching time to complete laundry, bathe, dress, feed, hydrate (both themselves and their kids), tidy up their homes, and share laughter—all in a single day. Meanwhile, I spread our basic necessities throughout the week, with the exception of laughter; we excel in that department.
I picture other mothers preparing engaging and age-appropriate art projects for their kids every day of the week, while I consider our spaghetti, arranged in abstract shapes alongside microwave eggs, to be an adequate creative endeavor.
I envision those other moms crafting thoughtful responses to emails in record time, shutting down their computers for the day, while I find myself pulling out my phone, laptop, or tablet multiple times a day just to respond to the 16 emails piling up in my inbox.
I see other mothers leaving insightful, supportive posts in their online Mom Groups, while I’m grateful if I manage to type a quick, “Me too!” or “That sucks!”
I imagine other mothers taking adorable holiday card photos in June, pre-ordering them by September, and sending them out with a cleverly written “Our Year in Review” letter by November 29th. In contrast, I post a last-minute “Happy Holidays” photo of my child on Facebook by January 3rd, hoping the family sees it.
I envision those other moms writing their next great American novel or blog during their child’s three-hour naps, while I struggle to type out even a single sentence as my child kicks my hands and distracts me in a multitude of ways. (I started this two weeks ago!)
I imagine other mothers being understanding and forgiving of the so-called lazy tendencies I exhibit, while I share a laugh with my child and remind myself that it’s all part of the journey, and we’re doing just fine.
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In summary, while it’s easy to compare ourselves to the seemingly perfect parenting practices of others, it’s important to remember that every mother has her unique challenges. Embracing our individuality and sharing laughter with our children are what truly matter in this parenting adventure.