I just don’t have it in me. I need more patience or things need to change around here, I thought to myself. 

It was one of those days where I needed to find a STAPLES easy button and needed to find one fast. From whiney fits, to disobedience, and fights- my patience was growing thin. We’ve all been there, right?

Fast forward a few hours later my son Makai requested a lullaby before bed time. He surprised me and asked if he could sing along this time. That night he sang every word to “You are my Sunshine” as if he believed them. It was the sweetest thing to witness.

As I celebrated this moment with my son, little lies crept into my mind.

Don’t forget….you can’t get it together.

Don’t forget….You aren’t very patient with him.

Don’t forget….He saw how frustrated you were earlier that day.  

Last week I shared my struggle with mom guilt. Obviously, it’s a rare occurrence around here. Mom guilt are thoughts just like these. In other words they are BIG FAT LIES. And mom guilt robs us from enjoying memorable moments with our kids.

Every day we spend time shaping, training, and encouraging these little people. One second we are correcting them and the next we are singing to them. This is the ebb and flow of motherhood.

I don’t know about you, but I want to be free from the lies that so easily entangle me into believing that I will never get “it” right. Because the truth is we may not ever get “it” right. Motherhood is perfectly imperfect.

Can I be honest with you? I struggle with my thought life every stinkin’ day.

Motherhood is a role where God strengthens me, uses me, and I realize my need for him with each passing day. When I am tired, exhausted, and feeling deceived he picks me up and adjusts my focus. He has prepared me in advance to do this beautiful work but the LIES still creep in.

What can we do to implement truth in our lives? How do we practically battle mom guilt?

1. Recognize what your thoughts are throughout the day. Are they positive or negative? Take notice of the first thought you think. Is it truthful about who you are as a mom? If not, choose to exchange the lies for truth. We can do this by recognizing them, by praying over them, and holding onto the truth throughout the day.
2. Reach out to a friend. You are not alone in this. She may just be feeling exactly what you are feeling or she can encourage you in the moment.
3. Remain in the moment. As you see the beauty in moments with your children, don’t allow mom guilt to distort what you see.

Sweet mama friend, our children know that we love them even when we feel like we have failed them. Today I choose the truth about motherhood. Will you join me?

Lord, please help us embrace the beauty, the frustrations, the impatience, and the spills in motherhood. Let us look past feeling like a failure so we can hone in on what is true about being a mom. Help us to choose truth over lies because we were made to be free. Lord, we ask for strength to truly enjoy these moments that you intended and prepared us in advance for. Help us to choose truth and joy. There in the mess lies beautiful moments like giggles and lullabies.  We don’t want to miss these. Help us Lord to hold onto freedom and ditch the mom guilt that so easily entangles us. Amen. 

What do you think about mom guilt? Has it robbed you from enjoying beautiful moments with your kids?

Linking up again with Mama Shares Monday today!