On not being the perfect Mum

I recently came across this post, which was submitted as part of the wonderful Britmums carnival over at the lovely Gemma’s place, by Mothering Mushroom.

Rachel discusses the concept of accepting that as a Mum we should sometimes accept that we are ‘good enough’.  That perhaps our ideas of perfection are simply not achieveable and, most truly, that we tend to be our own harshest critics.

It is a great post.

And she set us a challenge.

Ooooh I do love a good challenge.

Here it is, and I would love for you to join in too…

Firstly, list the top five reasons why as a parent you are less than perfect and, secondly, and perhaps more trickily, five reasons why you are good enough.

Here are mine:

Why I am a Less Than Perfect Mother

1. My son still has a dummy at night.  He is 26 months.  I simply cannot bring myself to face trying to get rid of it.
2. I will sometimes bribe him into behaving with food that he likes…not necessarily bad food but still a bribe none the less.
3. He has uttered the word ‘shit’ twice in the last two weeks and I fear know this may have come from my own, accidental, outbursts.
4. Some days we really don’t get out of the house enough, especially if it is cold/wet/windy/slightly-less-than-balmy to be honest.
5. I have come to rely on CBeebies quite a lot, particularly if I have a blog post to write.

Why I am Good Enough

1. I tell him every day that I love him and that he is smart/clever/beautiful/funny.  Someone once told me to remember that the things that you say to them in their early years will become the voices in their heads when they are older.  It has stuck with me.  I want those voices to be supportive and encouraging and full of love.
2. I read to him every single day, without fail.
3. He seems happy.
4. He eats well, better than me and Mr B in fact.
5. He has a routine that keeps his little world a stable place and, I hope, one that he feels safe in.

So, now I pass on the baton.

Are you up for the challenge?

I would be delighted to hear your thoughts.