Motherhood is an incredible gift we are so blessed to be given. I know elbows deep into a sink full of dishes, a toddler hanging on your ankle asking for the 128th snack of the day, as you suddenly realize it’s time to make something for dinner because cereal for dinner again is not going to help your conscious sleep tonight.
Motherhood can be hard at times. It can be draining and a challenge oftentimes. You’re tired, overworked, hoping to maybe get a uninterrupted pee break at some point throughout the day. Yes, that means no animals either!
As you scroll through social media. You catch other’s highlighted reels, yes, don’t forget I said “highlight reel” and before you realize it. You’re comparing your entire motherhood to hers. As you see a beautiful picture of her standing in her big white glamours kitchen, dancing around in beautiful flowy dresses holding her baby that’s also dressed up to match her mother’s dress, smiles on everyone’s faces. You can’t help but think. Wow, if only my life looked like that. Everything would be so much better.
When you hit those moments. You need to realize what you are looking at is some’s highlight reel. That photo you’re looking at is one good one out of 800 photos taken to capture a moment that seemingly looks magical and perfect. Also, let’s not lose sight that it’s HARD to get a baby or toddler to smile when you want a picture.
These scenarios we create other mothers to live this glamorous life can ruin our motherhood journey. I know that seems extreme. But, it’s unfortunately, the truth.
You do not see into their everyday life and know behind the scenes of her motherhood. So why compare to one simple photo or video you see thinking her life is so much easier than yours.
How do you fix this?
Think of how many “highlight reels” you have in your every day as a mother. The moment your super busy toddler stops and hugs you randomly saying “I love you, mommy”. Or the time they run up to you so excited giving you a flower they found. The moment you’re snuggling them before you lay them down for the night thinking of how wonderful holding them in your arms feels. Or when you’re watching your newborn sleep thinking how on earth did you make something so perfect. When your little one thanks Jesus at night for their mommy. These moments are your highlighted reel that makes your motherhood so perfect.
It makes YOU their mother. Anyone can take a beautiful picture. If you want a white kitchen you can create that. But oftentimes. When the day is closing in. It’s all the simple little moment’s that you didn’t document on your phone that makes your motherhood so incredible.
This is a simple reminder that the next time you go to compare your motherhood journey to hers. Stop. Stop and realize. Their children, their house, their “beautiful life” that you believe is flawless is not yours. It’s not the journey you have been blessed to live. So stop trying to live someone else’s motherhood and start living your own.