White Trash Mom

This is the book I'm currently reading by Michelle Lamar. I'm not a fan of the title, but the principles inside sounds pretty good. Basically, it's a book bucking the idea that moms should and can be perfect. We should look great, be professionally successful, head up the PTA, and always have time for date night w/ the significant other. My first thought is that even though this topic interests me, I've not fell for this crazy image of what a mom should be like. Or have I?



"You're not a bad mother if the school has to call you because your kid has a negative balance for his school lunch account. You're not a bad mother if your kid is the last one picked up from school. You aren't the only one who feels like you are a bad mom if you don't have your kids signed up for ten different sports and a language class (or two)." Hm. One time, my babysitter picked up Olivia late from preschool and I still haven't gotten over the trauma. The school sent a letter home to me saying that if it happened again, I'd be assigned a fee. Then I cried, reflecting on my short-comings ("If only I could be a full-time mom, this wouldn't have happened!") If it were someone else in the situation, I would be convinced that they were being way too hard on themselves and that technically, it's not a big deal. But it IS! At least to me. Maybe I do fall into the trap of the image of what a perfect mother should look like...

The thing is - I'm going to fail. I'm not going to be the best mom. I'm not going to be the best partner, friend, or worker. Shit happens. What I need to remember is that I'm trying. I really am trying. And sometimes, that's all you can ask for.