Some labels seem so harmless and yet sometimes I grow weary of them. Working mom, stay at home mom, young mom (someone actually called me that, I don't think I'm so young anymore). Mom of small children (they're not so small anymore). Organic or Vegetarian or Frugal or Crafty mom, PTA mom, Scout mom (not all of those are my labels, you guess which ones). Sometimes those labels can be double edged swords. Proud to carry them, proud to share my involvement in my kids' lives. Sometimes they feel like a burden, something so heavy to carry around because I can't live up to the full expectation of what that really means. Good mom. I so appreciate the encouragement and love when people share this label with me, tell me I'ma good mom. But I know all of my mistakes, I know those weren't good moments, and the word good doesn't seem to fit. The kids are fond of telling me I'm the best mom ever. "I'm the ONLY mom you've ever had." Doesn't stop them from saying I'm the best. And I appreciate it and love that they want to encourage me. But I know I'm not the best. I fail far too often for that.
I know this is all starting to sound depressing, or like I'm depressed, but I'm not really.... I'm trying to talk myself into more realistic standards and goals. I can't be the very very best in the whole world, but I don't believe God calls me to that, so why do I try so hard to live up to that standard? I can be the best that I can in this moment, with the Lord's help. I can love my children to my very deepest part of my soul and let that love spill out into their lives. I can be a loving mom. And I think that's the best kind of mom to be, the one that each of us can live with, without inflated unrealistic expectations. And without judging anyone else for whatever other labels they carry.
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