The Perfect Mom

I took a 911 call today from a very frantic mother this morning at my job as a 911 Dispatcher.  As a Dispatcher we are trained to gather pertinent information and then relay it to a police officer or fireman and get help on the way as soon as possible.  We are also trained to use our voices to calm distressed people.  Besides, most 911 calls are not emergency's.  But, today the mother on the other end was hysterical.  She had locked her 9 day old infant in a vehicle.  I did my job, I calmed her as best I could, got the right information and quickly had the right people on the way to help her. But as I talked to her to reassure her, she said at least a couple times that she was a "horrible mother!"  A "bad mother!"  I tried to explain to her that we all make mistakes.  Heck, I once locked Presley in the car when she was a baby and we lived in north west Arkansas.  I freaked out too!  The babysitter called the local police and even though it was winter and the car was running with the heat on, all I could think about were the "what ifs." But the police were on scene in both instances in mere minutes and in both cases, the baby was fine.  This mother was beside herself all because she made 1 little mistake that actually turned out ok.  The  doors were opened, the baby was safe and all in the cool of an Arkansas morning.  All's well that ends well.  I guarantee you this mother will beat herself up for awhile over this one.  I know I did 10 years ago.  (and I was thinking, 'at least you didn't wait 31 days to report a problem!!)

And then, I know a dear sweet lady, who used to be Presley's kindergarten teacher.  A wonderful person, christian and mother and yet a few weeks ago she was questioning her own parenting skills.  She sweating the small stuff because she is a stay at home Mom, 1 son who is about 4 and a small baby, maybe 6 months old and a husband who works out of town.  Obviously most of her time is occupied by the baby, so she felt neglectful of her young son. Is she a bad parent? Heck no!  Is she neglectful of the older son?? No way!!  She's an awesome mother.  I know this.  But she too questioned her parenting!

I know one Mom that has 3 kids of her own, plus she and her husband foster at least 1 child about half the time, she works out and she helps her husband with his small business.  Her time is spent to say the least.  Sometimes she snaps at her husband and sometimes she snaps at the kids.  She yells and gets frustrated and has even had to apologize to her husband and the kids at times.  Talk about a bad parent!!  Heck, sometimes I have to go back and lighten a punishment or do away with it all together.  Yeah, I make mistakes too!  I get overtired or fussy and there's no time out for Mommy's!! I wish there was!  I try though.  I struggle.  I pray every morning for God to give me the patience and kindness and gentleness needed for my children and husband.  I think all of us parents go through periods where we feel inadequate or not as good as "other parents."  It's kinda the "grass is greener on the other side" syndrome.  If only I had this or I didn't have to do this...but we're all just really trying to do our best.  Be the best Mama and Daddy we can be. That's my prayer as I close my eyes too...help me be the best that I can be.  My only competition as Mama is me.  And I can be my own worse enemy!

Imagine how Moses' Mom felt in the book of Exodus.  She was an Israelite and the King wanted to kill all baby boys.  That included her son.  So she put him in a basket and sent him into a river.  How do you think she felt?  I bet she felt helpless and worthless!! After all, what do you feel like when you are unable to protect you own child?  Can you imagine that the best you can do is put your baby in a basket in the river and that's all you have to offer?? Yet I'm willing to bet that Moses' Mama put thought into her actions and she was then able to care as a "nurse" for her own son.  What a plan!  And I would also be willing to bet that as she helped to raise him, she still lost her temper sometimes and questioned herself the rest of her life if she was really a good parent.  Wow!! And look how her son turned out!  I guess we're all doing pretty dang good!

So, the perfect Mom...what is that?  I asked my 13 year old son that question and he said "someone who listens to you and someone who loves you."  That's all it takes to be "perfect?"  Maybe that's why God gave us two ears to listen and only one mouth for talking. I'm going to work on that.  I do strive to be the perfect Mom, but I'll be fine with "great Mom!"

Thanks for reading! The weekend is upon most of us.  I'll be working, taking 911 calls and my 2 girls come home from camp tomorrow night!  I can't wait to see them.  I've missed Presley tremendously! Michelle's 18th birthday party is Saturday and I want it to be special, so we're doing all we can; Friends, pizza, cake and arcade games....Sunday night church and then finally, my Friday which is actually Monday!  It's crazy, but I own it!