What makes me a good mom.

I think everyone has different opinions on what makes THEM a good mom, so I was thinking about it today.

I know I'm a good mom because I sacrifice everything & anything for my kids, to do whats best for them. I make sure they are healthy, and fed and happy, and have everything they need. I love them, I encourage them, I teach them. I take steps I feel I need to take to make them good people as they grow. I take them out into the world, to make friends & to experience things. I make sure they have fun, and get to do things they enjoy. My ears are always available if they need to talk. (Well, you know, only ONE can really talk, but it wont change when Hannah gets older). I support them, I respect them as people & I make sure they know how amazing they are. (There's a fine line between giving kids a big head, making them bratty & giving them a sense of entitlement, and I do my best to not cross that line).

No, I dont spend every second of every day giving them my full attention, and I dont feel guilty about that. I used to feel weird, if my husband & I got a sitter to go out to dinner, or if I went & did something with friends. I felt like something was missing, or that if people saw me without the kids attached to my side, they would think I was a bad mom. I got more comfortable with who I am, over time, and I dont feel that way anymore. I know my limits, and I am comfortable with the fact that I need some 'me' time, and that I earn it. Of all the hours & hours I spend dedicated to cleaning & taking care of our home, taking care of our kids & pets, bills, everything...I know I deserve a dinner with friends, or a dinner alone with my hubby, or whatever else is going on that I want to go do. I also know its important for other family members to get bonding time with my kids. Im not greedy with them. Granted, Im not comfortable leaving Hannah with many people (okay, Im actually comfortable leaving her with ONE person), but I try. She is high maintenance & requires special attention, and I am terrified she wont get it if she isnt with us, but I know I cant be like that forever. Its not fair to her, or to anyone else. My parents & grandparents LOVE to spend time with my kids, and I try to give them their time every once in awhile. Its tough for me to leave Hannah, but its not doing me OR her any justice to be stuck up each others butts all the time. That will only set her up for failure & hard times later on.

I try to do whats best for both my girls. I feel I have a pretty good idea of how to do things & how I want my kids to grow up, so I take it day by day & figure things out as I go. No one knows it all, but we all learn the longer we are parents, and the more we experience & go through with our kids & our lives. I learn every day, it seems. I dont do things that would jepordize my kids's health, and their best interest is ALWAYS number 1.

As mom's, its easy for us to guilt ourselves to death over the small things, but when you get to the point where you know you are a good mom and accept yourself, flaws & all, it's a good feeling :)