I Was A Really Good Mom

Today’s Mother’s Day Post was inspired by iMOM’s Expresso Minute “9 Ways to Be a Better Mom”

On the heels of becoming a mom to a 17 month old and a newborn within 2 months of each other (yes, I am one of the ones that decides to adopts and then gets pregnant – long story), I was freed from bedtime duty and I decided to spend my time at Barnes & Noble with a Starbucks to leisurely wander the aisles in the peacefulness only found among books. I ended up in the parenting section…of course. A title caught my eye - ”I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids". It jumped out at me I think because it was exactly how I felt. I forever wanted to be a mom, I loved kids, & kids loved me but there is nothing that shakes your confidence more than being a mom. With only 2 months of mommyhood under my belt, I was floored at how much I worried, felt guilty & questioned my abilities. Before kids, I used to look at the covers of magazines with the adorable cupcakes and crafts on the cover and think I couldn’t wait to one day make those with my children…now I look at them and think “yeah, right!” - which then makes me feel guilty! I do more by 9am than most people do all day but why do I feel like I get nothing done? I feel incompetent. I once was talking to an acquantaince and she shared that at least once a week, she felt like a bad mom…I said “Really!?! Only once a week!?! I feel like a bad mom just about every day - You are doing pretty good then!” We laughed…or maybe we cried, I am too tired to remember. It’s so hard NOT to be so hard on ourselves…we do have the most important job there is and that’s a lot of pressure. One way I started feeling better about the pressure was joining a mom’s club. FINALLY, a place where I could complain without judgement, ask for advice, share my advice and laugh or cry at the craziness of the day. I also finally knew I wasn’t alone in my “sometimes-I-want-to-run-screaming-from-my-house” feelings and it was OK to feel that way. In my heart-of-hearts I know I am a “good mom” despite the fact that I don’t make magazine cover-worthy cupcakes (true confession – I don’t like baking with my kids –ah! THE GUILT!), I don’t make the fun bento box lunches (although they are packed with just as much care) and at bedtime I loose my patience (but I am always up for one more monkey hug). I love my kids. You love yours. And that is enough to make us good moms. Happy Mother’s Day!

What Kind of Mother Are You?

Do you plan your own Mother's Day? It's really OK to speak up and tell your family what you want to do- It's your day after all! To help you decide what you might like to do this weekend, we are asking...What kind of mother are you?

Artsy:

• Colors Festival of Arts in Roswell Sat. & Sun.: Colors Festival of Arts
• May--retta Daze Sat & Sun at the Marietta Square.: May-retta Daze Festival,
• Second Sunday Funday at the High: “Jet Set with Mom”, 1-4 Sunday, $5 off “walk-up” admission for moms! High Museum

Nature Loving: 

• Make Paper Blossoms at the Chattahoochee Nature Center with your kids on Sunday: Chattahoochee Nature Center  
• "Gardens for Connoisseurs" through the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Tour 8 private gardens Saturday & Sunday: Atlanta Botanical Gardens
• Take a day trip to go hiking or enjoy a park!

Animal Lover:

• The Atlanta Zoo is going "apes" for moms! FREE admission for mom's with the purchase of a child's ticket! Atlanta Zoo
• Mother's Day Brunch at the Georgia Aquarium by The Wolfgang Puck catering Team! Georgia Aquarium

Foodie:

• "Gourmet Parfait" on Saturday 10 am or 3 pm at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, $6/child plus Garden Admission: Atlanta Botanical Gardens,
• Mother's Day Brunch Workshop at Young Chefs Academy in Sandy Springs from 12-2, $45 for 2, call 404-255-9263 to reserve spots, Young Chefs Academy
• Mother/Daughter Tea from 4-7pm Saturday, Chick-fil-a at Woodstock Dwarf House, Cost: $12 for 2 , call 770-591-4575 to reserve
• Taste of East Cobb Saturday at Merchant's Walk: Taste of East Cobb

Charitable:

• "Mothers Helping Others", Mother's Day Open Houses in Roswell, tours of Barrington Hall, Bulloch Hall, and Smith Plantation from 1-3 Sunday, FREE admission with food donations at each house for the North Fulton Food Bank. Begins at Barrington Hall,
  535 Barington Drive, Roswell
  : Mother's Day Tour of Homes

Musical:

• Enjoy an afternoon of beautiful music with your family…maybe these young musicians will inspire your young ones! Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Spring Concert at 3pm Sunday: ASO Youth Orchestra Spring Concert

Bookish:

• Barnes & Noble special Mother's Day Storytime & Craft, Town Center Prado & The Avenues at West Cobb locations @ 11; Barnes & Noble
• Special Storytelling event for the whole family at the Central Library  @ 3pm: Storytelling Event

Handy:

• Build a Heart Vase at area Lowe’s Build & Grow workshops Saturday 10 am , FREE,  best to register ahead but can “walk-in”: Lowe's Build & Grow
• Build a Tulip Planter at  Local Home Depot stores,  “Kids Workshop” Saturday, 9-12; no registration necessary. Home Depot