My friend had asked me to write a post based on a trial I am having. This trial is something I consider to be more of a BATTLE. The battle being raising kids.
Now, before you start to get judgey..... I am speaking about how hard it is to raise children, not how I don't want children. I feel this is a 24/7 battle in which there is no one to relieve me unless I pay them to. It's kind of messed up that I have to watch my kids for free when someone else gets paid to. I kid. I kid. I know I had the choice of having children. No one forced me. I just wish the child(ren) I was given had an instruction manual for each individual child.
Instead, raising children has become a competition instead of a joy. With others dressing their kids up like dolls; having the newest, trendiest things. Their kids are also taking X amount of extracurricular activities. Birthday parties are more of a spectacle than a celebration. Every year outdoing the previous one. Play dates are just a brag-fest amongst parents; 'my child can do this' 'oh, well my kid is learning a language they will never use again in their life' 'Not only can my kid run, he can run in a straight line!'
You get the idea. It's stupid, petty, competition between all the parents.
It makes me feel that if I haven't showered, done my hair/makeup, brushed my teeth, cleaned my house, fed my kids, dressed my kids, planned all activities for the day i.e. museum outings followed by a picnic in the park then library time with a spontaneous bubble party..... BY 9 AM...... I am a horrible mother. Most people would say to not worry what others think. It's not that easy. You get caught thinking,'' Is this what is good for my child that I am not doing?" Or you have people telling you that what you are doing is not good for your child. Everyone has an opinion. As a mother of 5, I know what works for one child will NOT work for the other.
I refuse to take a million selfies with my kids showing the world how awesome I am and how awesome I look while doing it. I have found that my kids will have fun doing a picnic in my backyard, while I am wearing sweats, without pictures commemorating the occasion. A selfie on Instagram of me doing something awesome with my kids does not make me a better mother. Me actually getting out of bed, feeding them, bathing them, and letting them play with boxes makes me a good mother. It's hard to not be overly critical of myself when I see what everyone else is doing via The Internet(s). So I guess the beauty in all this that I've found is to unplug and just let them be kids.
