Wisdom from Grandma

As Moms today, it feels like there can be a near constant barrage of angst, second guessing, and self-doubt trying to slap us around.

The funny thing is, I think a lot of it comes from parenting choices. Specifically, ones where there is no definitive “right” answer. This doesn’t sound like a bad thing, and yet they can so easily keep us up at night. I know it’s not just me, so don’t even. 😉

There are really big, tough choices.

VBAC or repeat c-section? Work outside the home or be a SAHM (or work from home)? Homeschool or public school? And on and on and on.

There are also smaller, every day decisions. These can seem huge in the moment even if years from now they won’t really have mattered all that much in the scheme of things.

Here are just a few I’ve dealt with:

Should I sacrifice my Saturdays to do photography sessions and bring in at least some amount of income for our family?

Since Artist, who has SPD, still only eats a handful of things…should I let Boo choose to eat only her favorite foods too?

Is it okay for me to spend large chunks of my afternoons working on my book while the girls fend for themselves, or should I be spending that time with them? They do grow up so fast, after all.

How many weeks can I wait before I absolutely have to scrub the bathroom?

The struggle is real.

And to make it worse, Pinterest is full of great ideas that are also nearly impossible to achieve. There are a bajillion articles out there telling me how to parent. (You guys, I’ve seen blog posts with titles along the lines of, “You give your kids what you think they need, but you’re wrong. I know what they actually need.” And, “If you make this parenting decision, you will lie awake at night regretting it.” I think it was about feeding your kids hot dogs. Seriously.) And don’t get me started on the random judgmental comments all over Facebook.

Which is why a remark my Grandma made recently really resonated with me.

I posted a picture from Boo’s 5th Birthday photoshoot (which took place about five months after her Birthday…whatever), and she commented something along the lines of, “She is so blessed to have a stable, loving home.”

How easy it is to forget the big picture!!!

When it comes right down to it, these decisions we can so easily stress over and second-guess ourselves about to no end are often just attempts to find the *best* choice out of many good ones anyway. Plus the only reason we struggle in the first place is because we love our kids so much it hurts!

So Momma out there tonight angsting over whether it’s okay to serve Taco Bell for dinner for the fourth time in four days (or maybe that’s just me), give yourself a break.  You love your kids. They’re not suffering from hunger or neglect or abuse. They have a stable, loving home…and at the end of the day, that’s what really matters. 🙂