How often do you feel like you're failing as a mom?
I have two daughters, one is 2.5 and the other is 10 months old. I feel like I try so hard to be a good mom, but I am constantly worrying that I'm screwing it all up. I cook healthy meals, I spend quality time with them together and separately when I can, I take them out and socialize them, I offer cuddles and do my best to validate their feelings without coddling or giving in to tantrums, I do my best to stay calm and level at all times, and I teach teach teach all day long. Despite all my efforts, I am so full of doubt. I lay awake thinking about the day and question everything about my approaches and responses to big feelings or conflict. Am I doing enough? Am I doing it right? How can I be better? It's like I'm striving to be the perfect mom but I have no idea what that even looks like and know full well it's not possible anyway. I'm so hard on myself when I mess up or snap at someone or just have a rough day. But I just want to be a great mom. How do you deal with the self doubt? How do you know if you're doing a good job?
For me, when perfect strangers tell me how “well behaved” or how happy he is whenever I’m out grocery shopping or in a restaurant. I know I’m doing something right I took him to a Phillies game and every one in my section ate him up and an olde gentleman told me “Great parenting, Mom!” The little things I definitely feel like a failure and that I’ve failed him. I get it. Trust me!