Learning. Growing. Being a better mom.

I’ve come to learn that there is a big difference in life lessons.  In my little world, I kinda group them into two categories :: The first category, we’ve all had ’em – you know, those HUGE, life lesson-type struggles.  You come out on the other side CHANGED because you’ve learned so much.  They usually end up teaching you SO much about yourself and how you want to live life differently because of them.  Life changers.

And then there’s that other category of lessons that life has for you…the ones that seem to come at you DAILY.   Things that you should’ve learned from, oh, about 3 years ago.  They come in all forms, but right now I’m talking MOM lessons.  Currently, I’m struggling with a few in particular.  I want to grow, to be better, to actually be able to put an imaginary check beside some of them, and say YES! I finally got it!  I learned this lesson.  It may have taken me all 387 million times that it was thrown at me, but I got it.  I know how I’m gonna handle myself and my emotions next time.

Except it happens again.  And I realize that I really haven’t learned this lesson.  I really haven’t grown from it.  I screwed up as a mom, AGAIN.  Ugh.

AM I ALONE?

Surely not.  So maybe somebody else can learn from the advice I’m giving myself…

Take Motherhood one day at a time.

We’re all just figuring it out as we go, right?  Celebrate those “easy” days.  Reevaluate the days we screw up.  Learn as we go, but learn smarter one day at a time.

learning. growing. being better.

Try NOT to take everything so personally.

Lately, I’ve been hit with a couple of really rude, insensitive, judgemental comments.  Things that hurt my mom-heart.  Things that I let get to me, instead of trying to see the good in what they might be trying to say…in their not-so-nice way.  I’m in control of who I let hurt me.  Period.

Stay calm.

In the midst of the craziness that is being a mom, remind yourself to stay calm.  Do what it takes to help you be a calm momma…  Get up early for some me-time, get in bed earlier for more rest, pray, exercise, get a hobby, set good boundaries with your kids, don’t over plan your days, don’t sweat the small stuff.  Mom’s emotions can spill over to the whole family.  I don’t wanna stress out my family.  Ugh.  No way.

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Thankfulness is KEY.

If I’m living life in a constant mode of gratitude for what I’ve been given, dealing with the petty stuff is so much easier.  Children are COMPLETE and TOTAL gifts.  NOT a given by any means.  If, on the hard days, we can remember how incredibly lucky we are to have these precious, precious gifts…it changes everything.

Love well.

It’s s HUGE part of our “job.” No one else will love your family the way you do.  Make sure they know and feel your love.  Express affection physically.  Verbally communicate it.  BE love to them.  I know no better way to express what that looks like than the classic verse from I Corinthians 13:4-8…

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. 

Keep going, Mom.  You got this.  And remember, lessons have purpose, helping us to learn, grow, and be better who we were created to be.  Not perfect.  Just better.  

Photo Credit :: Karen Jacot Photography

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