Today is Mother’s Day — at least for another hour or so. I know this because my Facebook stream was filled with posts from just about every woman I know announcing her unconditional love for her children and declaring her own mother to be the world’s best.
I did not make a similar Mother’s Day proclamation and here’s why: I, too, love my kids unconditionally — but they also piss me off on a regular basis. And I, too, think my mom’s the greatest — but she’s far from perfect. I’m not saying this to be mean or unloving, I’m just keeping it real.
You see, I’m not in competition with anyone on Facebook or the real world for that matter. It’s all relative anyway — relative to your life and your world. I’m pretty sure my kids would not call me the world’s greatest mom and I’m okay with that. I know — and more importantly, they know — that I’m doing the best that I can. I’ve given up trying to be the best and am working on being my best. Some days I succeed and some days I don’t, but each day is another day to try.
So I’m dropping the superlatives and celebrating all us moms who fail daily, but keep trying … Because even the world’s “okayest” moms deserve praise on Mother’s Day.
– LJDT
