I totally get it. Every type of mom deserves to feel fabulous: working moms, stay-at-home moms, fit moms, and those of us who might wear a few extra pounds. But while we’re busy celebrating the everyday mom who faces body image issues, parenting blunders, and outside pressures, are we just settling for “good enough”?
Is being mediocre just a bump in the road, or have we embraced it as an ultimate goal? I’m all for being real, but the mantra of “I’m not the best mom, and that’s totally fine!” might be the start of a troubling trend. Since when did aiming for greatness become a flaw?
Take, for example, a friend of mine, Lisa, who has a stack of degrees and even a Pulitzer Prize. Yet, she feels the need to lament about her burnt cookies to fit in at playgroup. Or consider Rachel, whose son got into Yale, but she downplays the achievement as if it were no big deal just to keep her cousins from getting jealous at family events.
High-achieving women often feel they need to apologize for their successes, almost as if they want to make others feel better about their own lives. But here’s the thing, mommas: just because someone else feels less than stellar, it doesn’t mean you need to dim your shine.
What happened to celebrating our victories and looking up to those badass women who own their achievements? I’m not saying we should flood social media with every little success. It’s not about putting anyone on a pedestal; that’s a slippery slope. Instead, it’s about laughing at our mishaps and moving on while still acknowledging our triumphs.
When someone gives you a pat on the back for finishing a marathon in under five hours, there’s no need to mention your muffin top. We should highlight women who juggle families and excel in various fields. Why? Because it’s inspiring to see women like us crushing it! I used to read about celebrities like Beyoncé and think, “Of course she can balance it all; she has a team!”
But recently, I came across an article featuring a bestselling author who insisted that her husband deserved all the credit because he had a high-paying job. This kind of thinking can be a convenient excuse, can’t it?
Why should we feel intimidated by success stories instead of motivated? Why don’t we celebrate the brilliant female scientists, Nobel laureates, or pioneering doctors as much as we do reality stars?
We mothers don’t need to make excuses anymore. The pressure to conform is everywhere, yet many of us thrive in our careers, train for Ironman races, write compelling articles, or even master new languages. We navigate public policy and save lives, all while raising kind, honor roll students. We’re organized, accomplished, and proud of who we are.
Our partners are there to help, but we’re doing all of this without an army of staff or multi-million dollar contracts. We’re achieving our dreams—big and small—and we should never apologize for that.
For more engaging discussions on motherhood, check out this article on our blog about home insemination and related topics. And if you’re curious about fertility options, visit places like Make a Mom for expert advice, or explore Wikipedia for a deeper understanding of IVF.
Summary
Moms of all types deserve to feel confident and proud of their achievements without the need to apologize for them. It’s time to celebrate successes and inspire each other instead of feeling intimidated. We should embrace our accomplishments and show the world that we can do it all—with or without a full-time staff!