Ten Things Every Mom Needs to Know

While I should be prepping my for class tomorrow I fell into the youtube trap and came across this Kid President video. So here is my list of the Ten Things Every Mom Needs to Know...according to me.



1.) You are doing a great job! If more people told moms this, then more moms would be more confident in their mom-ability.



2.) The phone number for the neearest pizza delivery. Better yet...put it on speed dial and don't feel guilty for ordering take out every once in a while.



3.) It's okay to ask your mother for advice. She has way more mothering experience than you and just because you ask doesn't mean you have to do it her way. ometimes you just need to get another perspective.



4.) You are the perfect mom for your child. You may not be a perfect mom, no one is, but you are the perfect mom for your child and you are an expert when it comes to your baby. Don't ever let anyone make you feel differently.



5.) You set the tone in your home. Everyone feeds off of you so if you are having a bad day chances are the people around you are too. Sometimes our kids aren't the only ones who need a nap!



6.) It is important to have alone time. Even it's just two minutes while you pee. We all need to have quiet time alone in solitude. For me, we are in the throws of toddlerhood and trying to teach Addyson about privacy. At this point she just wants to be with me in the bathroom so she can wash her hands and play in the sink. It is important for our children to see us model the importance of solitude and privacy.



7.) Mommy guilt is toxic. This is a tough one for me as I balance working outside the home, teaching as an adjunct, balancing mommy hood and being involved with my hubby in youth ministry. I often feel guilty about not having a clean enough house, having to have my hubby help cook dinner and so much more. The truth is we weren't designed to do it all alone. It's okay to let people help you. It's time to stop feeling guilty, period!



8.) Money doesn't buy happiness. Your child will live if they don't get a toy everytime they go to the store!



9.) The power of a few close friends. When I was younger I wanted to have tons of friends, but the older I get the more I realize the importance of having a few close friends that I can be real, authentic and vulnerable with. Fellow mommies who have been there, are there, or will be there are vital. It is really valuable to have a mommy friend that has kids older than your own, someone to look up to. But it is equally important to have a mommy friend who has a child younger than yours. Someone you can help on the journey. It feels good knowing that I have a friend who can answer my questions and it also feels good to be the mom to answer a newer moms questions.



10.) Go with your gut. I once heard it called Momsense. The common sense gut feeling that moms have is crucial. It's the gut feeling moms get which urges us to grab a towel and bag right before your kid pukes. It's the not right feeling you have about that aparment complex you toured later to find out it was crawling with people who were registered sex offenders. It's the unexplainable urge to pray for someone. The Lord gives us an inate ability to know what to do and we must listen to that urge. This doesn't mean we will always know the right answer but we must be willing to follow our momsense and the Lord's nudgeing.



That's it folks...my top ten things every mom needs to know. Disclaimer: I've only been a mom for two years. I'm sure in ten years from now my list would look differently.



Now I must return to prepping for tomorrow's class and teaching about the oh so exciting topic of Verbal Following, Exploring and Focusing Skills...if only I could focus long enough to get it done. On second thought...maybe I just need a nap.



Living fully present in the moment!