Mama said there’d be days like this

One thing I hope readers of my blog (that haven’t met me) never think about me…

“Wow, she really has it all together.”

(I say those that haven’t met me because if you met me you’d totally know I don’t have it all together.)

It’s so easy to write about the pretty part of parenting; post the cuteness all over Instagram/Facebook/Twitter. It’s not like everyone is pulling out their iPhones during a tug of war with their kid and says, “This is cute. I’m so posting this!”

Being a parent is hard.
Blended family life is hard.
Regular life is hard.

Most days are filled with awesomeness, smiles, hugs and tears of laughter.

But there are also days when your children act like crazy people, make bad choices or break your heart. Sometimes all of those in one day. It’s so easy to reflect on your kids and wonder,
“Is this my fault? Have I totally screwed this whole mom thing up? So-and-so’s kids don’t act like this. It must be something I’m not doing right.”

It is in that moment I’m reminded…
“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Don’t compare your kids or your experience with motherhood to others. It will make you overly critical of yourself and leave you feeling completely inadequate.

Try to take each day (or hour) at a time.

Pray.
Do the best you can.
Cry when you need to.
Pray.
Love them.
Love yourself.
Never give up.
Pray.
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P.S. Dear self, please come read this post when you need to be reminded that you’re a good mom whose heart is completely invested in this motherhood/stepmom gig and it’s ok to not have it all together.

Mismatched masterpiece

Tonight, AH and I made salt dough ornaments together. This craft is particularly special to me because I used to make them with my great aunt when I was a kid. She had ridiculous patience with me in the kitchen (something I am probably lacking with AH). I had pictured this whole Pinterest Board/Hallmark commercial moment in my mind of fun holiday craft time but she wasn’t as into it as I had dreamt up. She was a little lackluster about the whole thing. Until it came time to use the gingerbread cookie cutter and then again when it was time to decorate. She loves to draw so I gave her some markers and let her do her own thing.

Here’s a look at some of her creations…

She has a story for each one:
The red gingerbread– it’s actually “a gingerbread girl with a red princess dress on.”
The two on the bottom– “Those are the little guys who try to steal Santa’s sleigh.”
and “The green dots are his teeth.”

It fits right in on our mismatched, kids’-crafts-over-the-years, memory collection of a Christmas tree.

They’re so cute and totally her creation; Un-hallmarked and Pinterest board free.

Attention Walmart Customers

Dear Walmart Customers,

I want to apologize for the massive meltdown you witnessed this evening in the accessories department…and the hair care aisle…and snack foods aisle.

You see, my precious 4 (and 1/2) year old wanted something and she was not pleased with my response (“No, you don’t need that.”).

She then chose to scream and stomp and force tears and get all red faced. Bless her heart, she thought that I’d suddenly change my mind (she was wrong). Honestly, y’all, I don’t know why she hasn’t learned that this doesn’t work with me.

After our Come To Jesus Meeting between the underwear and socks didn’t convince her to find her sanity, I decided we needed to leave before I lost mine.

I went to check out and we left, pronto.

When we got to the car, she then continued her fit, hit her brother and kicked her legs like a madwoman.

All because she wanted something and had been told no.

I just spent the better part of a half our bagging up her toys to earn back. Hopefully, she will be more grateful for the toys she has. Or at the very least figure out not to start a stage 5 meltdown when being told no.

Hopefully, me sticking to my guns will make some impact on her. Because if she doesn’t learn now, she will still act that way at 14 and, well, I’d become an alcoholic and that just won’t fly.

I keep telling myself, “Sometimes being a good mom means evenings of trying to stay calm and hold your ground as they scream and throw a fit.”

I say this, not because I doubt how I handled the situation, but because sometimes you have to repeat things to yourself to keep from losing it on your kid.

Thankfully, tomorrow is a new day. Hopefully, one with fewer tears and more fun.