When I was pregnant, I knew I was going to be the best mom possible. I happily read books on how to be the perfect mom, and made lofty plans about what to do and how to handle parenthood when my baby arrived.
Boy, was I being a dreamer? Yes.
When my firstborn arrived, the reality of parenthood hit me hard.
All the ambitious goals that I wanted to achieve were thrown out the door. It was simply impossible to be the perfect mom. Nowadays, I just strive to take care of the needs of my family. Even these things take a huge amount of effort.
Everyday can be a struggle, but then again, it there weren’t so much that went into parenthood, the rewards wouldn’t feel as satisfying.
For example, there are truly no words to describe the joy of holding my babies and seeing my children blossom as they grow up.
This is just one of the accomplishments of being a mom.
Today, I would like to talk about some of the motherhood accomplishments that don’t get recognized enough. These are the mundane everyday things that I took for granted prior to having kids, and they are now a big deal when I managed to achieve them, and are definitely worthy of excitement as a mom!
1. Put All The Clean Laundry Away
I don’t know about you, but every time I managed to wash, dry and fold all of our clothes within the same day, it feels like a huge accomplishment to me.
Even remembering to move the damp clothes from the washer to the dryer is a huge accomplishment in and of itself. So if I can put away the clean clothes all within the same day, it’s even more impressive!
2. Take The Perfect Picture Of My Family
Taking pictures as an adult is easy. We can sit and stand still for however long you need us to do it, and we still manage to flash a bright big smile for the camera.
Now, when it comes to kids, it’s a whole different story.
When my kids were babies, they could not sit still for the life of me. And when they managed to be still for the split-second, you can forget about the smile because they just don’t understand the concept of posing for the camera.
Then, the toddler phase is even more difficult. My 4 year-old would refuse to even look at the camera or smile. She’s either looking away, or she’s just sulking in every picture that we took.
So when I have a really good picture of the entire family with everyone smiling, heck yeah I’m framing it up!
3. Having An Uninterrupted Work Call
15 minutes is all I ask, but every time I have a call to take for work, my kids would never leave me alone.
Being able to take a work call uninterrupted is a great achievement. Now my kids are a little older and can self-entertain themselves long enough to make a phone call. This is definition cause for celebration!
4. Being Able To Finish My Warm Tea In One Sitting
If you’re a mom, I’m sure you know what I mean by this.
For the longest time, I’ve only always managed to drink cold tea even though it was hot when I first brewed it. I never seemed to get the time to finish my tea while steam is still oozing out of the cup.
There are always a million tasks to complete, like making sure my kids are fed, or wiping away the food stains from their dirty mouth.
So, being able to enjoy my warm tea in one sitting is an accomplishment to me!
5. Called Or Texted Anyone Back
I sincerely apologize to everyone out there if I had ignored your calls or texts.
In my pre-child life, I used to respond to phone calls and texts almost immediately.
Nowadays, unless it’s really urgent, it takes me forever to respond. I’m sorry, but I’m just elbow-deep in toddler diarrhea, so anything else is really not as urgent as this.
On days when I can actually take phone calls and respond to text messages like a normal person, it really does feel like an accomplishment.
6. Getting My Kids To Sleep In Their Own Beds
Once my kids transitioned to big kid’s bed, it was really a challenge to keep them sleeping in their own beds all night long.
My eldest daughter used to crawl into our bed in the middle of the night every day.
It’s getting better these days as her little sister sleeps in the same room as her, but they still manage to find their way into our beds on some days.
When both my kids sleep through the night in their own beds, I consider it success!
7. Dinner Without Drama
As a family, it’s always a challenge to eat out. My 2 year-old can’t sit still, and my 4 year-old likes to talk loudly. Not to mention the fights that would happen all the time between my kids.
When I took my kids out to dine the other day, someone commented that my kids were so well-behaved and they were really impressed. I really felt like a rock-star because it’s not always a breeze eating out.
8. My Kids Can Play Together Without Fighting
Siblings rivalry is a real thing.
My two daughters can play together, and they can be a lot of fun, but they usually end up fighting after a few minutes.
On days when both my kids can play together without any adult supervision and fights, it is truly wonderful for me.
9. Being Able To Watch An Adult Show Without Being Interrupted
Honestly, I can only watch Cocomelon or Blippi so many times.
On some days, I just want to put on an adult show and watch it in peace, but it is such a luxury.
Now that my kids are a little older, it’s so nice not to watch the same cartoons repeatedly. We can mix-in some adult shows or superheroes movies, and it is such a welcome break for the brain.
While these motherhood accomplishments may not seem like a big deal to many people, they are incredible to me nonetheless.
We often do not give ourselves a lot of credit as mothers, but if you’re a new mom, just remember that the typical baby milestones aren’t just the things that we should use to measure our worth. Treasure these little accomplishments as they happen and enjoy the moment!
What are some of the mundane things that you have accomplished as a mom that made you feel great? Share your story below. I would love to hear from you!