Being the Mom

During the past couple of weeks I have started to feel guilty for not being a better mom. It was only intensified last night at book group as I listened to the other mothers tell some of the things they do with their kids (a tangent discussion that really did have to do with the book/literature). Don't get me wrong, I love bookgroup. It was my own insecurities that were sparking the guilt.

Here's what I hear/see. Mom's who:

* take their kids to the park
* sign them up for swimming lessons
* read to their kids (not just Dr. Suess but moral of the story/history literature)
* play games with them
* make cookies for all the neighborhood kids that have congregated in their yard
* make/provide Halloween costumes (yes, that topic has already come up)

I have to admit that I have felt a little inadequate, lazy and lame as a mommy. I had already been feeling this way when I went to Mom's house last week and was trying to remember a quote that I had put on a pillow case for her. I took a picture of it while I was there, came home and continued to feel even more inadequate.

This morning I woke up with a better perception of myself and no longer feel guilty. I realized that my kids are fed, dressed, have a bed and home to sleep in. As far as all that activity stuff goes, I'm great at planning it but my follow through to actually carry out the activity is lacking bigtime. However, I enjoy just being with (a.k.a. hanging out) with my kids and we laugh A LOT!

Though it is not a daily or even weekly occurance, I have been known to take them to the park, read to them (though the book needs to have lots of pictures or be the Book of Mormon), played games with them and 1 year I did make their Halloween costumes. I don't like making cookies but I'm good at providing unlimited popcorn and Otter Pops.

I'm doing the best I can. No more guilt for me . . . until the next insecure moment.