Work It, Mom! Home > Member Blogs > What is the "Perfect Mom"?

Weekly Blog Theme

Share something that has surprised you recently

Write a blog post on this theme »

Read other member's blog posts »

See all blogs

Featured Blogs

The Working Closet
Shop your own closet. (Part One.)

Problem Solved!
Weight loss tips that work

Ordering Disorder
Fried Green Tomatoes, the Recipe

The Work It, Mom! Blog
Do women just worry more?

Milk and Cookies
Distracting a baby: what toys work?

Working (On) Motherhood
Office Ergonomics

Cornered Office
Working on the weekends may be genetic (and not entirely bad)

What is the "Perfect Mom"?

By Michele
View Profile | View all posts
7th Jun

Will it ever be ok not to be the perfect mom?

I am not the perfect mom. I don't think most days I'm the perfect mom. I am not the warm and fuzzy mom that embodies putting the kids first at all times, at all costs. Most of the time I don't even think of myself as a mom. I'm too busy doing.

I am more like a dad than a mom with them. I have fleeting moments of reading stories, car ride conversations, and weekend outings. I'm not there when they fall down on the playground or assisting the teacher on field trips. I can't even seem to remember to send in cookies or cupcakes on their birthdays like the other moms do. I rush them in the morning to get ready and off to school and I rush them to get home so homework can get done and dinner made.

I love my kids. They are more dear to me than anything. So, when I step back and take a breath, I realize that they love me too and think I'm the best mom. It's not the cookies and cupcakes. It's not the bandaid on the scraped knee. It's not being in their classroom or on a field trip. They know I love them and am there for them. Isn't that what is it to be the perfect mom?

Tags: kids mothering

Please sign into your account or join Work It, Mom! to leave a comment.

tkd_mama 9th Jun

[Report This]

I had a moment this wknd that normally would be pretty trivial, but when one has these kinds of self-doubts as a mother, they take on more significance. My son dropped something, and I stopped myself from automatically reaching down to help him. Now, my son is 8. He's fully capable of handling these situations. But sometimes I think I may baby him a little sometimes, and I wonder in part if it stems from that "not being there 24/7" guilt. But this time, I just looked at him with a smile and an expression of, "Well, it fell. You know what to do." And he did. :-) - Paula.

JDaffron 8th Jun

[Report This]

Well, according to some things I've read, the "perfect mom" is a SAHM who lives 24/7/365 ONLY for her children. She has no other life but them, because to be perfect, it would be shelfish of her to to otherwise. She is at their beck and call and does everything for them. She cooks each meal, she sews their clothes, she makes their costumes. IOW, she does EVERYTHING for them. Her children have high IQs and get Harvard, Yale, or whatever. She's ALWAYS there with bandaids, neosporeum, etc. She's the head of the PTA, the Scout Leader, the EVERYTHING and she has NO earthly clue WHY people shy away from her because she expects others to be just like her.

Am I perfect?

Heck no! And quite frankly, I have no desire to be.

God, shoot me dead for ever wanting to be.

No THANK YOU!

Nataly 8th Jun

[Report This]

Thank you for writing this. I really needed to read someone write what I've been feeling a lot. This year has been so crazy and many days I feel like I just pop in and out of my daughter's life -- that I am not there enough.... But I am not sure there is such a thing as a perfect mom and I try to remind myself that we don't need to be with our kids 24/7 for them to love us and to feel our love:)