Sometimes I whip up delicious organic smoothies for my son, carefully blending the freshest fruits; other times, he munches on Honey Nut Cheerios that have mysteriously migrated to my unvacuumed floor.
Sometimes I rise before my son, shower, and put on real clothes—looking somewhat presentable in case I venture outside; other times, I choose comfy elastic-waist pants, skip the shower, and cancel any plans that require me to step outside my front door.
Sometimes I dive into playtime, building block towers, reading stories, and singing “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”; other times, I’m too drained to engage because, let’s face it, entertaining a baby for 10 hours can be a real snooze-fest.
Sometimes I dash upstairs the moment I hear him stirring from his nap, eager to scoop him up; other times, I crave just three more minutes of silence, leaving him to wait it out while I sit at the kitchen table, doing absolutely nothing.
Sometimes, when my husband comes home from work, the kitchen is spotless, the floors are vacuumed, and dinner is almost ready; other times, the sink and dishwasher resemble the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Goldfish crumbs are everywhere, and I plead with him to order takeout—even if it busts the budget—just so I don’t have to cook another meal this week.
Sometimes I put my phone down and fully dedicate my attention to my son; other times, I find myself scrolling through articles on how to be a good mom while he plays quietly, completely ignored.
Sometimes I put him down for a nap and become a productivity machine: blog posts written, dishes done, laundry folded; other times, I pull him into bed with me for a blissful two-hour nap, waking up to a mountain of unfinished tasks.
Sometimes I’m completely at ease with my own parenting style, shrugging off what other moms are doing; other times, I can’t help but compare myself to the fit mom in line at the store or feel a twinge of jealousy over the exotic family vacation to the Bahamas that another mom is taking.
Sometimes I feel incredibly grateful to stay at home with my son every day; other times, I wish someone needed me for something a bit more demanding than just slicing fruit into tiny pieces or rescuing a block from under the couch.
I am a mother of contradictions; at any given moment, I embody a different version of motherhood than I did just moments before. I’m flawed and inconsistent, capable and sometimes just plain clueless, a vibrant palette of emotions splashed across the canvas of parenting.
But even in those moments of chaos, laziness, or less-than-perfect parenting, I am always a good mom. And so are you. Even if your little one devours snacks with artificial colors or you find a conversation about a movie star more engaging than your baby, or you feel your patience wearing thin because someone barges in on you for the tenth time while you’re in the bathroom. Even then, you’re still a good mom, just not a perfect one. But who really gets it right all the time? Sometimes.
For more insights into the parenting journey, check out this excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination: CDC’s pregnancy page. And if you’re considering home insemination, you can find valuable information at Make a Mom for all your needs.
In the end, remember that even amongst the chaos, we’re all in this together, doing our best to navigate the beautiful mess of motherhood.