There are many nights I lay in bed reflecting on my day and wishing I had made better decisions as a mother. I inappropriately dwell on my lack of patience, my inattention and my reactions to frustrations. While it’s wonderful to be introspective, there’s absolutely nothing productive about looking back on all my days with regret and guilt. I much prefer flipping back through the day’s photos on my phone and reliving the joy in my daughter’s eyes as do something as simple as chase each other through the house. In spite of all that, I don’t know a single mother who doesn’t have a desire to be the best mom she can be. But where to start? Being a “better mom” is a bit of an abstract concept and it has many definitions for different women. After you’ve identified some of the things that personally make you feel that you have room to grow, then take a look at some of these simple ideas to becoming the best mom you want to be.
1. Make Yourself A Priority
There are many times that I tell my daughter to wait while I finish what I’m doing. I question if I should drop what I’m doing to tend to her and put myself on the back burner. But then I think of the sage advice from every flight attendant I’ve ever flown with. “Before you help your children with their oxygen masks, put yours on first.” The same goes for motherhood: you have to take care of yourself and be a whole person (or as whole as you can possibly be!) before you can put your best mom foot forward. That doesn’t mean you should be completely selfish, but it does mean you should value yourself.
2. Embrace Mornings
Whether you’re a morning person or not, they all come once a day and often determine how the rest of your day will flow. Instead of looking upon it with dread and living in a constant state of manic and panic with kids running every which way, get yourself organized. Use your mornings as a time to effectively plan out your day, and that includes eating breakfast. Get lunches done, plan dinner, write out shopping lists and have some time to mediate, pray or focus intentionally.
3. Prepare For Tomorrow, Today
Mornings are partially as hectic as they are because we don’t always use our time wisely. Instead of scurrying around looking for the lost shoe while the bus pulls up outside, start laying out outfits the night before. Pack lunches when the kids go to bed, take care of signing notes and stuffing them in backpacks. Review your day planner and confirm upcoming appointments. You will relieve the weight of unnecessary stress when you know what to expect.
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Karly Wood
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