We all feel pressure from the outside, the inside, and all around us. But the pressure we put on ourselves as parents weighs heavy on every moment throughout our days.
We agonize over every choice we make for our children (even if you can’t see that we do it externally). We want to give them the best life – whether that means more things, more time, or more of whatever they need in that moment. Do we cuddle our babies longer or take ten mins for ourselves? Do we throw our child an extravagant party for their birthday every year? How do we teach them right from wrong? How do we discipline them the right way? The list plays as a never ending loop in our heads.
The fact that we feel these things so deeply is a reflection of our love. Love as a parent trumps all other loves. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a true believer that loving your spouse and having a strong marriage (should comes above all else). It sets the bar for giving your child a happy life, but that’s a whole other story. Our love runs so deep for our little ones, that sometimes it hurts. Sometimes we beat ourselves up for not being “good enough”.
I am here to tell you that YOU ARE ENOUGH. The fact that we spend so much time wondering if we are enough for them proves that we are. Sounds overly simple right? It is, but it’s the truth. If we didn’t have such strong emotions tied towards giving our kids the best life maybe it wouldn’t be enough, but it is. Sometimes we need to pause and remind ourselves that these feelings and thoughts show that we are enough for them.
You chose to take a shower instead of hold your baby for five more minutes. That’s okay. You chose to go to dinner with your friends or spouse instead of staying home with the kids. That’s okay. You chose to have a smaller birthday party without spending hundreds of dollars for a few hours. That’s okay. You yelled at your kids for misbehaving today. That’s okay.
Hear me out – all of these things are different for every family and every parent. We will always wonder if we are enough, but please just remember you are. Cherish the little moments, love them hard, and make the decisions that fit your family. There isn’t a model or mold we can follow like directions or a script. We just have to keep choosing to do our best everyday for our kids and that’s enough.
Remember, if it’s all you do – it’s enough.
Soul on Fire 