In this Together

I have had a hard time finding my groove as a mother for a few months now. Honestly, I'm not sure I've seen it on a regular basis since the birth of my third child. Or maybe it's just that I've had to adapt to a "new" groove since becoming a mother of three. That being said, our first month here in CT has been especially challenging. I think I put my finger on why it's been harder as of late. 


You see, most (not all) East Coast families are smaller than mine. Much smaller. In fact, in my limited observations, not counting church friends, most CT families consist of one or two children. At the library...the park...the grocery store...children are more of a scarcity than in other parts of the country where we have previously called home. That being said, I sometimes feel like a circus act when I take all three kids out by myself (which is probably more often than my sanity should allow). Logical-me likes to think that no one is really gawking at me like it appears, they are all too worried about their own lives and their own problems. But then self-conscientious-me is certain that they really are staring and thinking all sorts of things about how I'm "in over my head" and need a lesson on birth control.


For the record, most people are very kind to me and my little ones. And no one has been downright rude. I've come to the conclusion that my choice to raise three small children very close together is one that not all people find appealing, so they might have a hard time understanding why it DOES appeal to me. And I am totally o.k. with that. To each his own, right? So I have been trying really hard not to be a mind-reader (even though I know I'm really good at it) or get anxious when I think someone might possibly be judging the way in which I am choosing to raise my family. After all, I'm 32 and 3/4 years old, it's high time I stop caring what other people (might) think of me!


I had an epiphany recently after reading this blog post. With all the mothering groove/child-rearing/self-conscientious thoughts on my mind, I suddenly realized, aren't we all in this together? Shouldn't we be helping each other as much as we can? Forget being secretly overjoyed upon seeing another child throw a tantrum in public (my kid NEVER throws tantrums THAT big) or gagging while reading a sweet post about how motherhood is bliss (she's totally lying through her teeth right now), because sometimes it really is. So I choose, here and now, to judge less and love more. Want to join me?


I read a great quote from this inspirational talk:


"may we try to be 'perfect' men and women in at least this one way now--by offending not in word, or more positively put, by speaking with a new tongue, the tongue of angels. Our words, like our deeds, should be filled with faith and hope and charity, the three great Christian imperatives so desperately needed in the world today. With such words, spoken under the influence of the Spirit, tears can be dried, hearts can be healed, lives can be elevated, hope can return, confidence can prevail."


I am making a resolve today to be happy and supportive to all my fellow mothers out there. After all, don't we all want what is best for our children? At the end of the day, I would dare say that, more than anything else, every mother just wants to give her kids the very best she can. 


On that note, I have wanted to share the very best recipe I can for the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies for a long time. So check out the link on my side bar. You won't regret it, at least not until you've eaten the entire plate of them yourself. When all is said and done, mothering requires a lot of chocolate. 

Because every post deserves a picture.