Mom of the Year...Not

 

So Janet awarded me with this hysterical, well, award. I love it. I love it for many reasons. The title, the image...the fact that I am SO NOT "Mom of the year"! Thank you Janet. I will wear this proudly.

So, here’s what you do:

1. Admit that ONE thing you feel awful about involving being a mom. Get it off your shoulders. Once you’ve written it down, you are NO LONGER allowed to feel bad. It’s over with, it’s in the past. Remember, you’re a good mom!


2. To remind yourself that you ARE a good mom, list SEVEN things you love about your kids, you love doing with your kids, or that your kids love about you. These are the things to remind yourself of EVERY DAY that you rock!


3. Send this to FIVE other Moms of the Year that deserve forgiveness and a reminder that they, too, are the best moms they can be!!! Remember to send them a note to let them know you’ve selected them, and add a link to the person who nominated you!

Hell, I have one bajillion things that I can name that I have done and felt awful about later on. But here's one: I feel like I don't spend enough time with my daughter. Gah. There, I said it. I feel guilty when I'm on the phone, when I plop her in front of the TV or computer, when I send her to the basement to play alone...Whenever I am NOT doing something, anything with her...Hell, while I'm writing this post. But I do it anyway, because I still need some MOM time, even after she's been in school...or out with her Dad...or well, anything not here.

I'm sorry. I do it and I guilt myself...but I continue to do it.

A vicious circle. I tell you.

Okay. There. That's that.

Now, the seven things I love about my daughter:
1. Her imagination. She is vivid and specific and creative and so interesting to listen to when she's telling a story or playing out a situation with her toys. I love listening to her.

2. Her vocabulary. She sucks up new words every day. She speaks better than I do. And I love that about her.

3. Her love of life.  Every day is fresh and exciting and fun for her. She loves life and school and her friends and loves sharing her joy with everyone.

4. The fact that she used to be shy...and isn't any more. What a different kid. She was so painfully shy it hurt ME to watch her be outside. But now, she has more friends and more social events and more to give than anyone I ever met.

5. Her hair. Damn I love her hair. It's thick and long and luxurious and I'd give anything for a head of hair like hers.

6. Her heart. She cares. Truly cares about other people's feelings and making them happy. She wants everyone to feel loved and cared for. It's an amazing quality for a child to possess. And she HAS it 100%.

7. Her focus. She gets into something and stays in it until it is done. A game, a project, a book. Anything. Once she starts something, she must finish it. Especially when she is truly in love with whatever she's doing. I envy her focus. I envy her passion for things.

I want every mom who comes to this blog to accept this award from me. I think we are all too hard on ourselves and it's nice to know there are others out there who feel the way we do. If you do this..let me know so I can link to you here...