You Might Be a Fit Bottomed Mama If …
Remember that stretch of horrible no-good sleep I wrote about a few weeks ago? Well, mamas, I think we’re FINALLY starting to come out of it. Although I don’t want to jinx it, it does seem that a few bedtime tweaks we made are working. I’ll be detailing more of those tweaks in another post, but during it all — in the middle of my many sleep-deprived nights — I began deeply thinking about myself as a mother — and about motherhood at large.
When your child pushes on to another phase of development, you have to fully and completely adapt to an entirely new situation (every single time). And it’s not easy. Our recent toddler sleep struggles really made me understand deep in my mama bones just how freakin’ fluid and ever-changing parenthood truly is. Not just from day to day, but even hour to hour.
It also got me thinking about how there’s no one single right way to be a mom. You just have to do what’s right for them and for you. Sometimes you feel like you’re knocking it out of the park, and other times you’re not even sure you’re getting by, but it’s all part of this wild ride we’re on as parents.
Know what I mean? See if any of this resonates …
You Might Be a Fit Bottomed Mama If …
You cook a delicious organic meal for your family on Monday.
On Tuesday night your kids eat Goldfish crackers and fruit snacks for dinner.
You’re patient and loving and kind as you help your child brush her teeth before bed (even though it takes 10 minutes and creates a huge mess).
You lose your shit when you find her chomping on a pretzel 10 minutes later.
Your house is clean and all the laundry is put away by the time lunch is ready.
Your house is trashed and your kids are wearing PJs and sandals at 3 p.m.
You’re dressed and showered and feel put together for your coffee date with a friend.
You’re in the same yoga pants that you were three days ago the next time you see that same pal.
Sometimes, you feel unstoppable.
Sometimes, you would give your left arm just for a five-minute break.
You hit the gym three times a week and assume this is the way it’ll be forever.
Then, you miss two weeks of workouts due to sickness, sleep deprivation and ALL THE THINGS.
You check in regularly with your friends and feel connected.
You miss your best friend’s birthday.
You’re mindful and present and engaged with your kids one moment.
You’re on your phone multitasking the next.
You feel like the best mom in the world.
You feel like the worst mom in the world. Sometimes at the same exact time.
The Takehome
There’s no perfect way to parent. There’s no such thing as a perfect “mom.” Just like fit bottoms come in all shapes and sizes, so do moms. And the shit we deal with changes on the daily. No wonder we do, too!
Embrace it. We’re all more alike than we realize.
We’re also less alone in our experience. It’s individual, but in so many ways it’s also universal.
Mama, be you — all of you. And know that you’re not alone. —Jenn