No one is perfect, including mothers! We believe that mothers who make mistakes, and react with a healthy attitude, teach their kids a valuable lesson. It is an opportunity for them to show their kids how to accept their imperfections and to learn from their mistakes.
Why Imperfect Moms Are Remarkable
Wonderful moms understand that kids need to make plenty of small, affordable mistakes. They know that kids must occasionally experience struggles and disappointments. They also know that constant rescuing or micromanaging creates kids who need constant rescuing and micromanaging. Because of this, the best moms often feel a bit lonely and unsure of themselves.
They feel lonely because our society too frequently rewards what looks good rather than what is truly good. They feel unsure of themselves because they rarely overhear other mothers bragging about allowing their kids to learn by forgetting their lunch, misplacing an occasional homework paper, or having to pay for a lost coat.
It’s easy to feel guilty or insecure when you see so many “super-hovering mommies,” loaded with all their children’s sporting equipment, back packs, and responsibilities. It’s easy to lose perspective when your vehicle is the only one without an “Honor Student” bumper sticker. It’s tempting to waver when the parents next door are working harder to complete their child’s homework than their child is.
Encouragement and Tips for Moms
Moms, I thank you for all that you do! Here are some tips that I hope you will take to heart:
- Parents who try to be perfect often raise kids who struggle with painful levels of perfectionism. Give your kids a gift by making mistakes and being gentle with yourself over them.
- Take care of yourself by letting your kids do most of the housework. This builds their self-esteem and shows that you are someone to be honored rather than taken for granted.
- Become very hard of hearing when your kids get demanding or fail to preface their request with a pleasant “please.”
- Ignore the perfect moms on social media.
How Others Can Support Moms
Everyone else (including me) can support moms by:
- Letting the kids know how fortunate they are to have such a wonderful mom.
- Modeling an attitude of service by helping mom in front of the kids.
- Giving opportunities for mom to have a special time just for herself.
- Cleaning up after yourself.
- Providing this support throughout the year—not just on Mother’s Day.
A Final Thanks to Imperfect Mothers
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all mothers everywhere for everything they do. I hope to encourage all the wonderful mothers who let things fall apart from time to time and who understand the wisdom of providing a rather imperfect world for their kids. If you’d like some tips for those times when you feel overwhelmed, you might benefit from our special offer this week for our audio, Love and Logic Magic When Kids Drain Your Energy.
Thanks for reading!
