2 Stunning Realizations That Will Make You A BETTER MOM

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The amount of pressure stay-at-home moms can put on themselves to be perfect and raise perfect children is sometimes unbearable. Do all moms do this? Of course not, but I know plenty of moms, myself included, that feel such an enormous amount of pressure to be the perfect mom. It doesn’t have to be that way! I’m going to share 2 simple, yet stunning realizations that will relieve some of the pressure and make you a better mom.

Behold, The Perfectionist

If you’re a perfectionist, raise your hand! 🙋🏻‍♀️

It’s so common for stay-a- home moms to err on the side of perfectionism. However, perfectionistic tendencies in motherhood are not doing us any favors.

There is a significant correlation between stress in motherhood and perfectionism, as evidenced by multiple studies. Perfectionism, characterized by setting excessively high standards and being overly critical of oneself, is linked to increased stress levels and psychological distress.

A study published in the Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment found that perfectionism can lead to chronic stress due to the constant pursuit of unrealistic goals and the fear of making mistakes. This continuous pressure can result in significant emotional disturbances, including anxiety and depression.

In the context of motherhood, perfectionist tendencies can exacerbate stress levels. Perfectionist mothers often feel compelled to meet high standards in parenting, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and constant worry about their children’s well-being and development. This can create a cycle of stress and self-criticism, negatively impacting their mental health and overall well-being.

Moreover, research indicates that self-critical perfectionism in mothers is associated with increased stress and decreased psychological resilience. Perfectionist mothers may struggle with balancing their expectations and the realities of parenting, leading to higher levels of stress and burnout.

So, what do we do?

The following 2 realizations will help you break loose from the drive to be the perfect mom and give you freedom to be an even better mom!

1. You Were NEVER Meant To Be A Perfect Mom

Moms all have one thing in common. We are human, and we make mistakes. Lots of mistakes. But when you’re a mom, the stakes feel higher because it feels as though our children and their future are hanging in the balance. If we don’t do it perfectly, surely we will mess them up beyond repair!

Right?

Wrong.

Here’s why.

I’m sure you’ve heard of this little word called GRACE. It’s small but mighty. In fact, it changes everything.

Grace meets us where we are and takes us to the finish line.

Image a glass of water, filled half way with our own water. God takes his water and fills the rest of the glass. It’s complete. That’s grace!! Grace completes what we aren’t able to complete. It perfects even though we are imperfect.

We give our best as moms. Of course we do. But the fact is, we will never ever ever ever be perfect, and we will always always always need God’s grace to fill in the cracks.

The most amazing aspect of God’s grace is the fact that His grace mixes with our imperfect humanity and creates perfection. Wow! It’s almost too good to be true.

So if you think about it, our children are actually better off with imperfect mothers who also pray and cover their children with God’s grace. God’s grace mixed with our imperfection is better than our own human perfection will ever be.

If this realization doesn’t take a load off your shoulders, I don’t know what will.

2. God HAND PICKED You To Mother Your Children

You were hand picked to be the mother of your children. Literally. When God looked at the soul of your little baby and searched all throughout history to find a mother who was a good fit for that little baby, YOU were highlighted.

It’s actually insane. You were the puzzle piece needed in your child’s life to jumpstart them into the destiny God has written over their life.

That feels like a big responsibility, right? Well, that’s because it is.

BUT. Here’s the cool part, and this is where you’re going to feel the pressure lift.

God hand picked you knowing full and well what your struggles are, where you don’t quite meet the mark, all of little parts of you that aren’t perfect. And he still said, “This one. She’s the best one for this precious soul. I choose her. She has everything this baby will need,”

You have exactly what it takes to be just what your child needs. No more. No less. Well, actually, going back to point #1, we are MORE than enough when we add God’s grace to the equation.

God doesn’t expect you to be perfect. He expects you to be YOU. Is that a huge relief or what??

Say It AGAIN

Ok. Just so we are clear here, and you have the best chance to brush off that standard of mama perfectionism, let’s go over this again.

God never intended for you to be a perfect mother. He doesn’t expect you to be. His grace is sufficient to fill in ALL of the areas where we lack.
God knew all of your imperfections and still chose you to mother his most precious babies. YOU are enough, just as you are.

You now have permission to let go of the unrealistic expectations you have set for yourself in motherhood and be the best mom you can possibly be by simply being YOU. No more. No less.

You are enough, because God has made you enough. Now go be the best YOU you possibly can!