The Perfect Mom

Do you know someone that to you appears perfect? That mom who appears to effortlessly do what you strive to do, so to you, she is #momgoals.

My former co-worker was always put together with her styled hair, cute clothes (which of course she found on sale) and high heels! She had a full-time job, loving husband, a house decorated like a catalog, exercised regularly and ate really healthy. The hardest part is, I couldn’t hate her— she’s as sweet as pie, very smart and everyone loves her because what’s not to love?

When she became a mom, I secretly hoped she’d start wearing flats or put her hair in a ponytail for once. But alas, she handles being a mom with grace and continues on as my “perfect mom.” She will always be #momgoals for me.

Especially in the last year, I’ve focused on finding out who I am. Truthfully, I loathe heeled shoes, don’t have the patience for curling irons, and am more of an Amazon Prime mom than a Pinterest mom. Becoming my version of “perfect” wouldn’t make me happy; there’s a reason why I will never be that mom.

Whenever you start comparing yourself to your “perfect mom,” here are a few thoughts that may help:

1. No matter how “perfect” she appears, she is likely fighting her own battles.
2. Social media is a curated version of someone’s life where they only post what they want you to see. It is NOT an accurate view of reality.
3. Moms are some hard-working bad@$$es. If you’re feeling jealous of what another mom did/has/wears, refocus your energy – applaud her for rocking it! Put some positivity into her world and yours.
4. Becoming “perfect” is exhausting. Wouldn’t you rather spend my time focusing on what makes you happy?
5. Some people are naturally better at certain things and others have put in effort their craft over time, likely because they enjoy it. Remember, we don’t see the effort and time she put in.
6. There are only so many hours in a day, save your energy for the people that are important to you and who you are important to as well.
7. Your daily inner dialogue becomes your reality. If you want to change your future, start by changing your thoughts.
8. What you do matters.
9. These “perfect moms” are sort of like a pro-athlete, she drives me to want to be better.
10. At the end of the day, what makes me the best mom is being true to myself and who I am.

Sidenote: A few of these tidbits were inspired by “The Slight Edge” by Jeff Olson. It was an incredibly eye-opening book including insight into the power of how your everyday habits shape your future. Highly recommended!

So the next time you see a “perfect mom,” remember she is a real mom trying to be her best self too. Take some inspiration and then keep doing what you do best because who knows, you might be the perfect mom to someone else! And, let’s support each other because supporting another mom who is trying is always a good #momgoal.

Do you know the real-life version of your perfect mom? If so, how does she make you feel? Did any of the points above ring true for you?