Moms, it’s time for a change!

Moms, we are all guilty. You do it! I do it! We all do it!

Judge.

You see that mom in the grocery store with two kids sitting perfectly in the cart, and another walking along beside like the perfect helper.

Your mind automatically goes to things like, “wow, what is she doing that I’m not,”  “she must be a stay at home mom,” or “she must have a lot of help at home for her kids to be that well-behaved.”

On the other hand, you see said mom in the grocery store with three wild and unruly children screaming, biting, and throwing things out of the cart. Your mind automatically goes to things like, “that woman has no control over her children” or “why did she even attempt grocery shopping.”

It’s normal. It’s natural, but it has to stop.

Moms, its time for a change!

Let’s change the fact that we compare ourselves to every mom we encounter, no matter their current state (good or bad).

There are no two moms or two families who are living out the same life. We each have different situations, families, kids, jobs, and lives that majorly affect each and every day.

Instead of comparing ourselves, take note of something positive. Look to other moms for ideas. There are so many moms out there that may excel in your area of weakness, use those strengths to better yourself! And congratulate those mamas on a job well done, with gusto, instead of envy.

Let’s change the notion that a mom having a bad moment is a bad mom.

Everyone has bad days, weeks, moments, or years. The truth is, if you witness a mom completely lose her cool in the grocery store or at the park, that doesn’t make her a bad mom. We all have those moments, we all lose our cool.

What we need to take into consideration is what that mom, that family, or those kids have already gone through that morning or that day. Are they at the park to relieve a little pent-up energy after spending the morning in a hospital, at a nursing home, or at a funeral? Did that mom at the grocery story just lose her mind because she just got off the grave yard shift, is exhausted, and this is the absolute only time she can shop?

I’m not saying that we need to excuse bad parenting. But I am asking that you realize that none of us are perfect parents and that we all have our bad moments. (Don’t judge, see above)

Let’s embrace the idea that things are not always as they seem.

You see a mom and her three perfectly behaved children successfully complete a grocery shopping trip without so much as  one tear and you may want to shed a tear yourself.

However, what you don’t know is, that mom had already had the most horrible, awful, no good, very bad morning you could ever imagine. Her children just didn’t have any fight left by the time they arrived at the grocery store.

Instead of feelings of envy or self-doubt, give that mom a shout out. A compliment, a friendly hello, or a smile could be all that mama needs to turn her day completely around.

Bottom line, we are all moms! Let’s support, encourage, and lift each other up. Our jobs are hard enough trying to tackle the many, many things on our daily to do lists, the last thing that we all need is to be putting each other down.

So, reach out to a mom you know and let her know just how awesome you think she is.

And the next time you see a mom in the grocery store, with three kicking, screaming, and biting children give ME a shout out too (I swear I’m not a bad mom but the grocery store carts bring out the worst in my girls)!

Warmest wishes and happy mama-ing!

Dani