Success As A Mom
Inspired by Ron Hudson
What has to happen in order for you to feel extraordinarily successful as mom?
For me, it’s the little things. When we are out and a stranger says, “Wow, such great manners” or “She’s so well behaved” and especially, “They’re so smart!”.
Things may be a little different with me than most moms seeing as I homeschool my two children (boy age three, girl age six). It still amazes me to know that I, yes me, taught her how to read, taught her to add and subtract, taught her everything she knows. That normally she would be starting first grade this year, but most of our schoolbooks are 2nd grade level at least, and that my three year old has been doing her kindergarten work for about six months.
Whether it’s with schoolwork, general responsibilities, manners, etc, seeing the proverbial light bulb switch on is amazing and worth every ounce of effort of staying home with them all day every day.
The other thing that makes my life a little different than the norm, is not only am I a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom, but though I am happily married, I often live like a single mom, because my husband is a U.S. Marine. I am beyond proud of him, and would not have it any other way, but it is indeed tough. You take for granted all those little things such as being able to go to the doctor or check the mail, or walk the dog alone because your husband is around to take care of the kids. Not now. Everything I do, everywhere I go, my kids are with me. To make it even more concrete, BOTH of my babysitters just moved out of state. Yeah, how’s that for irony?! Just when I MOST need “ME” time, there is no chance of getting it.
One of the other things that makes me feel successful as a mom is realizing that while i am indeed a mom, that’s not ALL I am. I have still held on to who I am as an individual, from the music I like to the movies I watch, to the people I talk with. (THANK GOD FOR THE INTERNET!) I am proud of myself. I am hardworking and motivated and dedicated, all the while still being me, and doing it my own way, with my own flair.
And while many people may think that having kids has hindered me following dreams or being “me”, I have to disagree and say that my kids make me more “me”. This is what I was meant for.
I think that is what makes me feel extraordinarily successful as mom; being happy that this is what I was meant for. This is all I need, all I want.
