The Thief Of True Joy
Dear Mama,
Enough is enough. How often are we, as mothers, comparing ourselves, comparing our children, our situations and circumstances and everything else to others? If you’re honest, you could probably say you do this all the time. I know I do way more often than I should.
All those other mamas are not you. All those precious other babies are not your precious little baby.
As women we tend to compare ourselves in the most unrealistic ways, and I’m here to tell you that it’s time to relieve yourself of this unnecessary pressure. Comparison is the thief of true joy, and it’s time to live a joy filled life.
Pregnant mama, stop comparing your baby bump to hers. Your baby and your bump are perfect and beautiful. Enjoy it because they won’t be on the inside but for a moment. Stop looking at pictures of all the wildly extravagant baby showers wishing yours had been “bigger” or “better”. It’s not even about that. A baby shower should be all about the friends and family that join together to pour out all their love on you and your baby.
New mama, stop comparing your birth story to hers. You have your own story, your own body, your own baby, and so on. Birth is unpredictable and you can’t go back now and change the outcome. Hold that baby in your arms and look into their eyes and realize that having them in your arms happy and healthy is the only thing that actually matters now.
Toddler mom, stop watching all the toddlers of your friends on social media. Social media is not reality and you are only getting a small glimpse of that persons life. I promise you, it’s the age and the stage, and it will pass. You’re doing this and you’re doing it with more grace than you realize.
Motherhood is a lot of things and one thing I know is that we have all had moments of feeling like the grass is greener on the other side. The truth is we all have easy days, hard days, crazy days, blissful days, and so on.
Make the decision today to not live another day allowing comparison steel your joy. It’s robbing you of some of the most wonderful moments that you will never be able to get back. You are such an amazing mama. Start living each day like you believe it.