The Perfect Mom

Even though we all know it isn't entirely possible, isn't it what we all strive to be? (Those of us that are Moms anyway...)

I've been thinking a lot lately about all of the expectations placed on us as parents to raise our children "the right" way. Whether you do a lot of reading about parenting, have religious expectations, social/moral expectations, or just a lot of ideas, I feel like I am constantly bombarded with expectations about the right way to do things.

Kids need: to watch little to no TV, do arts & crafts every day, read books every day, to eat healthy well-balanced meals every day, to be bathed and washed up everyday, to make sure they can do this & that developmentally, and on and on and on.

It's no wonder we all get overwhelmed from time to time (0r every day). I've come to accept that I am not perfect (obviously) but that I can try my best to give my kids everything that they need. No I don't feed them all organic foods and sometimes they just eat peanut butter sandwiches. Sometimes they wear the same socks 2 days in a row. Sometimes I break my 1 hr. of TV rule and they watch 2. Sometimes they go 3 days without a bath. And I rarely do crafts...that is what ECFE, preschool, and daycare are for. :) But you know what? I try. And even if I let all of these things go every week, they would still love me.

I want to hear from you too: where do you feel pressure? And what do you make sure to focus on/rule do you follow every day?

Side note: The one "rule" I do follow EVERY DAY is reading to them.

Side note 2: I say "me" and "I" a lot... I'm not leaving Ryan out... he does these things too, of course... this is just MY blog. :)