Photo by Alison Bull Pavlos
Have you noticed that it's easy to get a little insecure as mothers?
To look around at other bloggers, writers, crafters, cooks, or women in general and think that they have it all together? To think, "If only I could do this like her?"
Let's stop it today, ladies.
Motherhood is tough enough without heaping extra doses of doubt, guilt, and insecurity on our heads.
It's time for us to revel in who we are, the unique individual with amazing talents and skills we were destined to be.
Everyone has weaknesses, of course. But many of us focus on our weaknesses continually, which doesn't serve us or our families.
Begin, today, to play to your strengths instead.
Let me give you an example: I hate puzzles. Always have, always will.
Even before I had kids, as a child myself, I remember reading or hearing that puzzles are good for developing fine motor skills and intelligence.
So occasionally I would buy a complex jigsaw and give it my best shot. Frustration always ensued. I just couldn't wait to finish up so I could go read a book!
I would secretly worry that I wasn't developing my full intelligence due to my lack of puzzle enjoyment. (Oh yes, I was an introspective child!)
Fast forward to my early mothering days. Now I found that I still hated puzzles just as much as I did in my early years.
Except now my worries were that my kids wouldn't have fully developed motor skills, that they would be "behind" developmentally.
At times I would get the puzzles out, out of a sense of duty, only to find that frustration still ensued.
Guess what?
My kids have great motor skills! Occasionally they will get a puzzle out on their own and go to town. Sometimes they need a little help, and of course I suck it up and give them a hand.
But then I go back to doing what I love.
When we do what we love, we revel in it. We don't have to conjure up feelings of enthusiasm--they're already there. And our kids pick up on it so quickly.
They love to watch us enjoy ourselves and be who we were meant to be.
When we play to our strengths, we are free to be ourselves. We pass the message on to our kids that discovering your passions is a joy--allowing them to find their passions, too.
So put the puzzles away in your house, or take them out--whatever brings you joy.
Play to your strengths.
It's a fun way to live.
