By If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m extremely analytical and feel things very deeply. I’ve told my husband, I feel like I have this sixth sense- I don’t know how, but I can just read people. It can be a curse or a blessing, depends on how you look at it. I feel like I can relate to others when I hear of struggles their facing and it instantly brings out this mama bear, encouraging spirit that I think is so important to run with. When you feel the need to say something positive or encouraging to someone, say it- do it. Have you ever heard the saying “all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage and I promise you something great will come of it”?? This quote quickly became popular from the (cute but a little sad) movie We bought a Zoo. Lately I’ve been trying to step out of my comfort zone to say things to others that initially might be hard for me to say but bring light in the end. Sometimes it’s difficult to gain the courage to say something that you know is uplifting or encouraging to another because somehow we find it a little embarrassing or a little “out there”. We fear what they will think of us… that we’re like weird or something- when in reality, your words will only bring life to both yourself and the person you’re bringing life to. Honest moment: I remember when I first started blogging, that “timid” person was me. Encouraging and uplifting others was something I had a passion for and wanted to implement in my blog, but I was scared. I was scared people would think I was too “out there”, I was scared people would think I wasn’t being real, and I was scared overall, that people wouldn’t relate, thus “failure” was on my mind. Naturally I am a glass half empty person (hate it!), so I try to fill and surround my life with positive people/things. Meet my husband- haha. But really, he is the goodness that is me. I am so thankful God brought us together and that he has influenced me to see the good in life when times have seemed rough. Fast forward to now, two years later in the blogging world, and I can tell you that only GOOD has come out of being positive through the blog/IG world. I have heard from so many of you on how the words I’ve shared have helped encourage you along the way. I don’t say that to bring light to myself at all- I share this to show you that positivity does work, 20 seconds of courage does work, and encouraging others through your struggles does work. It’s amazing how uplifting others can bring more joy to YOUR life than even theirs.
Recently I’ve heard so many mama’s (and can sense in others ;)) talk about their lack of self-worth in parenting… Feeling like they’re not measuring up or not doing a good enough job. Man, it’s tough isn’t it?! I think we ALL struggle with these thoughts from time to time. Are we doing enough? Are we saying enough? Are we loving enough? Are we giving grace enough? Are we disciplining enough? Are we teaching enough? And the toughest question- are we being a good mama? The list goes on and on. We can beat ourselves up to the core if we only focus on what were NOT doing. Let’s focus on what we are doing and I promise you’ll start seeing your self-worth rise.
I read this article on Pinterest the other day and had to share it with you since I know so many of you who follow along are fellow mama’s. I can’t take credit for it… Danielle Davis from Today’s the best day  blog wrote this incredibly inspiring and TRUE article. And in fact, while you’re over there- I highly recommend checking out her other articles. She is uplifting, encouraging, and real. After all, the title of her blog is “Today’s the best day”- Yes please, I want everything to do with that!
If you’re a mama & feeling like you need a little pick-me-up… read this.
You ARE a good mama!
10 SIGNS YOUâRE DOING A GOOD JOB AS A MOM
I received an email the other day from a single mom of twins. She has been struggling for many years trying to juggle motherhood, providing for her family, ending a sorrowful divorce and trying to be happy for her girls through it all. In her letter she wrote, âI am ready to give up. I donât know how much more I can do. I am just pushing through.â
To her I would like to say â you are doing a good job.Â
I got a phone call from a friend the other day who was having a hard time with her three year old. Trying to figure out how to discipline and teach her how to obey has been a struggle {like ALL toddlers -right?!} She said, âwhatever I am doing is NOT working â but I am trying my best.â Through a frustrated, but loving moms voice, I heard her almost begging for help.
To her I would like to say â you are doing a good job.
My sister has five children â FIVE. I have looked up to her my entire life! Trying to help an 11 year old with self-confidence, a 10 year old with homework, two toddlers with life and a new adventurous baby on her hip⊠she has her arms full. To the max. I love talking to her and hearing how she somehow manages life every single day. She says, âwe just take one day at a time.â
To her I would like to say â you are doing a good job.
The mom who is LIVING in the hospital because her baby just canât get wellâŠÂ you are doing a good job. The mom who works all day outside the home to provide for her family and comes home at 6pm just in time to feed the kids, play for a minute, put them to bed and then do it all over again the next dayâŠÂ you are doing a good job.
The mom who lost her child and somehow still takes care of her other children and puts a smile on her face, but inside her eyes and heart there is painâŠÂ you are doing a good job.
The mom who is living off of one hour of sleep today because her baby just wonât sleepâŠ. you are doing a good job. The mom who is laying on the couch reading this article after a long day on the job as a full-time mom⊠you are doing a good job.
As moms we all have moments of frustration and stress â moments where we feel we are failures and just not good enough.
If you can see ONE of these 10 signs in your life â you should know that you, just like the women above, are doing a good job.
10 SIGNS YOUâRE DOING A GOOD JOB AS A MOM
1. A GOOD MOM KNOWS WHO SHE IS: You arenât JUST a mom. You are much more than that. A good moms knows the important role that she has in her familyâs life. Believe in who you are and who you are becoming. Gordon B. Hinckley said, âWe must never lose sight of the strength of the women. It is MOTHERS who directly affect the lives of their children. Their influence is paramount.â
2. A GOOD MOM HAS HER PRIORITIES STRAIGHT: If you have left the house without a shower before â youâre a good mom. If you have fallen asleep on the rocking chair with a fussy baby in your arms before â youâre a good mom. If you have chosen to stay in with your family on a Friday night, rather than go out with your friends â youâre a good mom. If you have gone to Target at 10pm just to walk around while the children are in bed and it felt like a vacation â youâre a good mom. If you have seen poop on your pants and it didnât even phase you because you are use to it â youâre a good mom.
3. A GOOD MOM HAS BAD DAYS:Â Those days that you just watch the clock wondering when it is bed time. Those days that one thing happens after another and you think itâs a joke. Those days you just want to sit in a warm bath and never get out. Those days where you have no patience, disobedient children, screaming babies and a gigantic headache? â Good moms have bad days.
4. A GOOD MOM HAS GOOD DAYS: But not every day is bad. You then have those days where it feels as if all the stars have aligned because EVERYTHING just goes your way. You wake up before the kids and have breakfast made, a workout done and the dishes put away. You jump from one activity to another, everyone is happy, everyone is fed and everyone is dressed. Nap time lasts a little longer than usual and you wish every day was that good. â Good moms have good days too.
5. A GOOD MOM UNDERSTANDS SIMPLICITY: You realize and understand that you donât have to do it all. You know how to say ânoâ and live a simple life. You donât always have to be on the go and you donât always have to not be home. You know the importance of just spending time playing with dolls and puzzles in the nursery. And some days are pajama days.
7. A GOOD MOM WORRIES, HOPES AND PRAYS: âRest easy, real mothers. The very fact that you worry about being a good mom means that you already are one.â  â Unknown
>9. A GOOD MOM KNOWS HOW TO LAUGH: You laugh at spilled milk. You laugh at ANOTHER blow out diaper. You laugh when you canât find the keys to your car. You laugh when nothing is going your way. Marjorie Pay Hinckley said, âThe only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache.â
10. A GOOD MOM ISNâT PERFECT:Â Most importantly, a good mom isnât perfect. A good mom will make mistakes. A good mom will wonder âwhat in the world did I do.â A good mom will be confused, frustrated, anxious and nervous. A good mom learns from her mistakes and tries to do better the next time.
If you fall under one of those categories, you should know thatâŠ
YOU are doing a good job too.
Alissa
August 18, 2016Love this post! I totally get you mama! I feel things SO deeply too and am such a “glass half empty” person (two thumbs down, haha). Thanks for always keeping it “real”! I love that!
xoxo ~ Alissa
http://www.lipglossandlabels.com
chelsea jacobs
August 18, 2016This was such a good read. And I know exactly what you mean, sometimes we just keep things to ourselves out of fear. Cheers to more moments of courage!
Lindsey Tolin
August 18, 2016What a great post and it really hits home for me right now as I’m feeding my 4 week old baby boy. Being a new mom has been more stressful than I imagined. I’m reading every book and Googling every question imaginable about infant care. I’ve always been very analytical, as well, and have always been one to “follow the book”. I just keep telling myself I’m doing the best I can and that God won’t give me more than I can handle. Just blessed to have a healthy baby boy!
I’ve been following your blog and IG for the last couple of months and really enjoy your genuineness. Thank you for sharing!
Brittney Hjelseth
August 18, 2016oh how encouraging this was to read. thank you!!