Does Your Messy Past Make You a Bad Mom?
Inside: If we’re honest with our kids, we can explain to them how broken and sinful we all are. It’s not when you’re a mess, but we already are. We need Jesus.
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Today I have the pleasure of sharing at The Musings of Mum and the 31 Days of Motherhood Encouragement! I hope you check it out, I’ve read lots of great posts about mothering for the stages I am in. Thank you again, Tatiana, for this opportunity!
In the windowless basement amongst the brown and orange carpet was a wooden, play fridge and stove.
A pink doll bassinet could be seen along with the essentials to playing house. As I rocked my baby doll, a few seconds and she was fast asleep for a few hours while I tended to other matters.
The truth is, as I child, I had expectations of how being a mom to real children would look like.
The kids would listen, play together nicely and always eat what I cooked for dinner.
However, the first night of being a mom destroyed all the false expectations I had dreamed about. This reality was quite different.
Messy Motherhood
Never would I have dreamed about post-partum depression, anxiety or hormonal problems. And as far as the kids, they have been challenging in each season of motherhood.
I don’t know about you, but many days I question how I can do this?
Honestly, I’m a big mess.
I have lots of baggage from my past that affects my patience, the grace I extend and my confidence. There have been a few seasons in my life where I’ve struggled with anxiety and panic.
My greatest concern is my kids have witnessed my behavior or have inherited my defective genes.
How can you be a good mom when you’re a mess?
Some moms might feel like because of the shame and guilt of their past, they can’t overcome it so they aren’t even trying to be a good mom.
If we read statistics and reports, it doesn’t help that anxiety runs in families. The way we resolve conflict, talk to ourselves and the habits we have all make us feel like, “we are messing our kids up.”
Here’s the thing, if we’re honest with our kids, we can explain to them how broken and sinful we are. It’s not just us moms, but every human on this earth. We are all messy and falling apart.
Luckily, we have Jesus and His ability to change and transform us. We are work-in-progress moms.
I bet you can agree with me, I need Jesus every minute of my day.
To read the rest of this post, follow me to The Musing of Mums
Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your FamilyShepherding a Child’s Heart
Grace Based Discipline: How to Be at Your Best When Your Kids Are at Their Worst
Grace Based Parenting: Set Your Familiy Free
The Christian Parenting Handbook: 50 Heart-Based Strategies for All the Stages of Your Child’s Life
Parenting With Love And Logic (Updated and Expanded Edition)
Sacred Parenting: How Raising Children Shapes Our Souls
That was a good post. It is so good that young women/moms are addressing these sorts of things. I wish I had heard this when I was a young mom. Now I have a grandson and I am trying to be a bit more real and authentic with him so that he knows we are sinners, but we have a wonderful God who desires to save us and have a relationship with us. Thanks for sharing. – Amy
http://stylingrannymama.com/
Thank you, Amy! I think it helps for our kids to know this so they can form a personal relationship with Jesus.
It is so important to help our children understand that none of us are perfect and we all need forgiveness.
Kristi- It is important because we will keep screwing up and need God’s grace!
“I need Jesus every minute of my day.” AMEN! It’s when I forget that I become discouraged, but when I call out to Him help is always there.
Dani- He IS always there and promises to stay with us!