That Mom

I’ve been at this whole motherhood thing for a little over two years now, and I still find myself getting caught up in comparing myself to “that mom.”

You know the one. That mom with the picture-perfect Instagram posts whose kids are posing angelically. That mom with a bouncing blowout, freshly manicured nails and four-inch heels she walks in so confidently. That mom with a house that is somehow always spick and span even with little mess makers running around everywhere (meanwhile, I haven’t even put away all of my Christmas decorations yet… sigh).

And if you are one of those moms listed above, I truly mean this when I say, I have the utmost respect for you. I envy you. I worship you. Basically, I want to be you when I grow up.

But the sooner I accept all of the things I’m not as a mom and find peace with all of the things I am, the better… for my kids, my husband and, most importantly, my sanity. So here goes nothin’:

I’m not “that mom” who arrives everywhere 10 minutes early with kids in tow.
I’m “that mom” that is usually late (no matter how early I start getting ready) and burns rubber trying to get where I’m going.

I’m not “that mom” who does my hair and make-up every day, even if it’s just to make me feel a little more human and a little less mombie-ish.
No, I’m “that mom” who rocks the mom bun and dark circles under my eyes almost every day and lives on dry shampoo and caffeine.

I’m not “that mom” who has a side hustle or two and free time to pursue career ambitions.
I’m “that mom” who has failed at getting side projects off the ground more times than I’d like to count, and keeps telling myself, “Maybe when the kids are older…”

I’m not “that mom” who takes her family to church every Sunday or can even tell you the last time my husband and I went together BK (i.e. before kids).
But I am “that mom” who says a prayer with my toddler every night before he goes to bed, and for now, that’s enough.

I’m not “that mom” whose house is always neat and tidy, and is ready for visitors at a moment’s notice.
No, I’m “that mom” who needs at least a week to prepare for guests, and even then, I’ll likely wait until the last minute and just start shoving things in closets and drawers.

I’m not “that mom” who meal preps every week even though I bought the cute notepads to do so.
I’m “that mom” who is usually throwing dinner together last minute from bare cupboards, and whose weekly dinner rotation includes frozen pizza at least one night.

I’m not “that mom” who is super great at sticking to a monthly budget.
But I am “that mom” who makes sure all of the essentials are covered (bills, groceries, gas, insurance, savings, retirement accounts, and college funds) before I splurge a little.

I’m not “that mom” whose body bounced right back after having babies (especially baby #2).
No, I’m “that mom” who will probably be rocking an honorary baby bump for life… because I’m also not “that mom” who works out regularly. Ok, let’s be honest – that works out ever.

I’m not “that mom” who belongs to a big mom squad or even has a lot of friends for that matter.
I’m “that mom” who will hide from anyone I know at the grocery store because I just want a few minutes to myself. #introvertproblems

I’m not “that mom” who never loses my temper with my toddler, whether or not he deserves it.
I’m “that mom” who goes to bed feeling guilty every night because of something I snapped at or said, and who will never cease to be amazed by my son’s unwavering love for his mommy.

The term “that mom” can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different moms, but the fact of the matter is, you are “that mom” to someone out there – a close friend, a coworker, a friendly acquaintance. Somewhere out there, another mom looks up to, envies you, admires you and the way you make motherhood look effortless – even if on the inside, you feel like you’re on the struggle bus for life.

And even more important than always striving to be “that mom,” remember that you are THE mom to your tiny humans, the only people that truly matter.

What does being “that mom” mean to you?