Tips for Moms: Permission to be Human

The following post is from our contributing writer, Karen Stubbs. Karen is the founder and leader of Birds On A Wire Moms (BOAW). Through BOAW, her mission is to encourage and equip moms. I hope this article from Karen equips and encourages you today in your role as a mother!
Moms, how many times have you “messed up” in mommy world and then later kicked yourself for reacting the way you did? Maybe you made a rash decision or decided not believe your child’s alibi and later finding out they were telling the truth? When any of these situations happen (or a million different variations on those themes) we beat ourselves up and we don’t let ourselves off the hook very easily, do we?
I know in my life, I cannot even count the number of times I messed up as a mom. Yes, once upon a time I sent my child to school when she told me her tummy wasn’t feeling good. You see she didn’t have a fever and “looked” okay to me. So…how horrible did I feel when the school called and said, “You need to come pick up Emily, she threw up in class?” It’s even worse when you walk into the school office and she is sitting there with eyes filled with tears, thinking to herself, “See, I told you I was sick.” UGH! I could almost cry right now thinking about it, and it happened 15 years ago!
But, here is the point moms – we are ALL human! We WILL make mistakes. As a mom, you have to be okay with making a few mistakes every now and then. We tell our children, “It’s okay, shake it off, you will do better next time” when they make mistakes. So, we need to take our own advice and apply it to motherhood. Shake it off, say your sorry, forgive yourself and move on! No one is perfect.
This week, when you mess up (notice I didn’t say IF, but WHEN, because you WILL mess up), remember you are human. Realize that your mistakes make you more loveable and approachable because perfect people are hard to be around. When you make mistakes, your children realize you are like them and I believe that endears them to you, because they can relate to you more easily. Emily probably wasn’t endeared to me the day she threw up, but we do laugh about it now.
Hang in there. We are all on a journey and it’s our first attempt at this motherhood thing, so you will learn as you go. I’ve been a mom for almost 26 years and I’m still learning and still making mistakes! Give yourself the same grace you give your kids…


More About Karen Stubbs:

Karen Stubbs is the founder and leader of Birds on a Wire, a ministry designed to equip moms through truth, encouragement and community. Karen is the wife of Greg Stubbs, they have four children, Kelsey, Emily, Taylor and Abby and reside in Cumming, Ga. She is passionate about challenging moms to experience motherhood in the way God intended it for them and their families.

About Birds on a Wire:

Birds on a Wire is a ministry designed to encourage moms and equip them with Godly practical advice so that they will be able to parent with confidence and feel confident in their ability as a mom. As a mother of four I know firsthand how difficult raising a child is in today’s society. A mom can feel isolated, ill-equipped and unsure of herself and her mothering skills. BOAW pulls alongside moms to give practical advice and assure them that their heavenly Father is with them in this journey. If you have little ones or teenagers or any age in between, join us on this journey of motherhood.
Connect Online: Website | Facebook | Twitter

EXCITING NEWS:

We are so excited to introduce you to Birds on a Wire’s newest curriculum, The Six Truths of Motherhood: How To Navigate Culture, Take Care Of Your Children, and Still Have Time For You, which is available NOW!
You’ll hear from Karen as she shares lessons on discipline, courage, family values, boundaries, stress management, self-worth, identity and much more! We hope you love it, and we hope it encourages you. Find out more and buy the new study here: http://birdsonawiremoms.com/