We all spend time comparing ourselves to others. I'm not sure exactly why we do (maybe to see where we fit in the world?) but I'm confident that everyone has compared themselves to someone else at some point.
As a mom, there are days I wonder about how I stack up to other moms. Am I making the right choices? Is it bad that I don't use only cloth diapers, or that I do use jars of baby food? Do I read to my baby enough? Should I spend time teaching him names of colours or what sounds animals make? Am I enough?
Those questions are bad enough when you're just asking them of yourself. But when you add other moms into the picture, it's always worse. Other moms seem more rested, better dressed and more put together. They bake, craft, and make all their own baby food, diapers, and toys. Their babies use sign language, can name and imitate every animal at the zoo, eat only organics, sleep 12 hours a night (which they started doing at three weeks old), and are learning to read.
Being a mom can be really empowering, but it can also highlight all your insecurities. You become strong in one way, and completely vulnerable in another.
So I have a new mantra for those insecure days. I read it somewhere, so maybe you've seen it to. It's the best reminder I have found to stop from getting down on myself when those "Maybe I should be ..." thoughts creep up:
"The reason we struggle with insecurities is that we spend time comparing our behind-the-scenes to everyone else's highlight reel."
So when you have one of those days as a mom, try thinking about that idea. Then tell yourself you are enough -- so much more than enough.
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