Feeling like a good mom

I had a moment yesterday where I felt like a good mom.  I know.  I should feel like that a lot, but to be honest, it's easier sometimes to remember the times when I feel like a bad mom. It was 60 degrees outside, but I had to run some errands.  So, I piled the kids in the car to run to the bank and stop by the library for my daughter to run in and get her book on hold.  I then made an impulsive decision to just go to a random park to play, rather than bringing everyone home to play outside our house.  I just googled on my phone to find the closest park to the library and we went and played for an hour.

It was awesome.  Everyone had fun and I wasn't worried about checking the phone or being home getting dinner ready (thank goodness for leftovers). It was just a beautiful day at the park.  I looked at all of my kids being happy and having fun and thought "Look at these happy kids.  I'm a good mom for bringing them here." A moment of positive affirmation.  I think that sometimes as moms we need more of those.  And I think that sometimes God just gives us those moments to remind us that we're doing okay. I'll take those when I can get them and try to remember them in those moments when kids are yelling at each other or me and I'm not feeling like such a great mom.

I am so not one of those mom

I am so not one of those moms at the parks.  You know who they are.  You've seen them.  Or maybe you are one of them.  The ones that come with their hair perfectly styled, makeup on, and wearing cute trendy clothes.  They're pushing an expensive stroller with one child.  Their one child is dressed in a cute new matching outfit, complete with cute new shoes (and cute hair accessories for the girls).  They look like they are reading for the photo shoot to appear in the next month's issue of Baby or Parenting magazine.

Sometimes I tell myself it's just because they only have one kid so they have time and money to spend on preparing for an outing to the park.  Then I remember that even when I only had one kid I was never one of those moms.  Then I remember I was never one of those young adults or teenagers either.  Then I remember how thankful I am that my mom wasn't one of those moms, and that when I was growing up I never felt that pressure from my family to look "perfect".   There are so many things that compete for my time.  I guess fashion and cosmetics are losing that competition.  And I'm fine with that.