Mismatched Socks

My son and I wear mismatched socks almost every day. It’s one of those things that falls way down on my totem pole of priorities, yet every morning I have an incredible amount of guilt when I search through the sock drawer. This is one of those times I feel like a failure. Why can’t I keep up with the laundry? Other people don’t have this problem. Why can’t I be a better mom?

First and foremost, this thought is total bullshit.

Other people struggle to keep up with laundry & if they don’t, they struggle in some other way. ‘Comparison is the thief of joy.’ Stop comparing yourself to others. Everyone has struggles, but most do not publicize them. If there is someone in your life that you think is the perfect mother, have a deep conversation with them. You will find they have situations where they feel as if they’ve fallen short. I wholeheartedly believe my mom is the best of the best when it comes to being a good human & mother. Since having Oliver, we have gone deeper into conversations about being parents. She has pointed out times when she felt like she had fallen short. Guess what? I do not, at all, agree that she fell short. I never noticed these “shortcomings” as a child. Let me hit you with a relieving truth, your kid will not think you failed them because they wore mismatched socks, just like I don’t think my mother failed me. They’ll remember the fun trip they had to the zoo, jumping in mud puddles & going to the park – not the fact that all those memories happened with 1 blue sock and 1 red sock. Look past the daunting thoughts of failing and soak up the goodness that comes in those moments. This morning I snuggled my son for 15 minutes before I put on the last two, mismatched socks in the drawer.

You control your thoughts. Take active steps in changing your mindset. We need to stop beating ourselves up over the stuff that does not make or break a ‘good life.’ If you have love in your heart, that is all you need to be successful. I love my son and I show him that love every single day. I need to tell myself more often that I am a good mom, rather than telling myself every day that I am failing. These are affirmations. Write them down, stick them to your mirror, read them every day. Surround yourself with positivity, eventually you will see more goodness than badness and even start believing it.

I am a good mother. My son is loved. He is happy. I am successful. Snuggles > Laundry.

I am not perfect, but this is one of the things I am actively working on. I am changing my mindset to positivity rather than failure.

Be kind to your mind.