I have a mom confession to make. My kids are terrible eaters, and I don’t care.
It feels so liberating to write that. This is honestly something that used to stress me out beyond belief. My oldest two children were excellent eaters until they started to have stronger opinions at around three and four years old. My youngest has been doomed from the start.
No matter how many times the pediatrician assured me that it was fine, I would still see the beautifully portioned out meals covering every food group posted by others on Instagram and feel like an absolute failure. Why won’t my kids eat plates of food like those?
I have a lot of other mom confessions, too. My kids watch a lot of TV, we don’t really censor our language, and I quit the fight on trying to get my daughter to wear what I pick out and do her hair the way I’d like it done. This is not to say we aren’t strict in other areas. I’m a stickler on bedtime, treating others how we would like to be treated, and education – school comes first!
When I struggled with anxiety after my third child was born, people used to tell me that they were not sure how I did it all; how I seemed to really have it all together. That used to drive me crazy because I certainly did not feel that way. In reality, I felt like I was letting my kids down and that everything was falling apart.
Now when people say it to me, I know why they get that impression. My secret is that I have let go and that I am comfortable in my mom-skin. It’s why I have no issues making these mom confessions today.
I can’t be perfect. What I can do is pick my battles. With three kids, life is chaotic regardless, and there too many battles to tackle them all. When I pick my battles, everyone is happier.
