Granting Myself Grace

One of the times I saw a therapist, she had me focus on “I statements.” How I felt. What I thought. Because those were the only things I had a say in.

There are other people and other parents that will always be on the lookout. They are looking for me to slip up, make a mistake or do something wrong. And let me tell you, I do and I will! I will make mistakes, I will forget things and sometimes, I will get separated from my kids and I will take the easy way out. 

But, here’s the thing, I can only control how I feel and how I react in life’s situations. (That doesn’t mean I don’t get upset or annoyed or bothered, this is hardly also the case). But, when I do make a mistake, when I do forget something, when I do mess up, I don’t have to be so hard on myself.

I can show my girl that it’s okay to make a mistake. It’s okay to forget something. It’s okay to be human. And I don’t have to be mad at myself or disappointed in myself for not doing it the best way or not doing it the greenest way.

I can grant myself grace.

When the husband is out of town and I feel like it’s Groundhog Day and I really don’t want to cook dinner and I really don’t want to have fussing kids at a restaurant, it’s okay to throw them a curve ball and decide that we are having frozen yogurt for dinner (just add some fruit to the top, okay?) Best nutrition for the girls? No. But, they were fed and we were all happy.

I can grant myself grace.

When your friend is leaving Atlanta and you haven’t been out with the group in a while and your kids are moody and having rough bedtimes, it’s okay to keep your plans. Will the girls get to bed? Yes. Will you give them all the hugs and kisses in the morning, yes? Are you showing them that it’s okay for mom to have friends and do things with them? Yes.

I can grant myself grace.

When my fuse is short and the girls have extra energy and might have a little sass and I might lose my cool, I can ask for forgiveness. It’s okay that I’m human and I sometimes raise my voice when I’m upset. They know I love them. I know I’m trying to do my best every day and sometimes I fail. But, I will keep trying and keep working. 

I can grant myself grace.

When I get home from working out and B needs her diaper changed, and her pacifier and her bunny and her sisters need lunch, it’s okay that this usual cloth diapering momma puts a disposable diaper on B and doesn’t bother with pants. Sometimes, I just don’t want to deal with spraying and washing diapers. Sometimes I need the convenience and extra time of a disposable diaper. 

I can grant myself grace.

Sometimes I need a diaper like Pampers Premium Care with an Absorb Away Liner that pulls wetness and mess away from baby’s skin. Sometimes I’m traveling and looking for a diaper with a breathable material to keep air circulating around baby’s skin. If I’m being honest, I just a diaper with extra absorb channels which help distribute wetness evenly for up to 12 hours of protection. Changing sheets at 6 am isn’t fun and I haven’t had to do that with Pampers Premium Care. We are fortunate that we don’t often deal with diaper rashes and these are hypoallergenic and the rashes have stayed away. The new Premium Care diapers can be purchased later this month at Walmart.

I can grant myself grace and be okay with choosing convenience. 

When I tell the girls I will do something. I do everything in my power to make sure I stay true to my word. It’s not often that I say I promise to do something. I want those words to have meaning! But, I will promise to always love them and always stand by them. I will make “I statements” pertaining to them. When I fall short on my word, I won’t let it be okay. I will do better. I will do my best.

I will grant myself grace in my mistakes, but that doesn’t mean it will be an excuse to continue. No, I will grant myself grace and I will push forward and do even better.