Am I the Worst Mom on Earth because Sometimes It Feels Like It (You could win a $250 Visa gift card in this post!!!!)

Love your blog, there’s so much I can relate to! Thank you for being so real 🙂 my sister in law is my awesome parent hero. She always seems to have endless patience with her 4 kiddos and I’ve never heard her yell at them (which is soooooo hard). I have an 19m old and I’m always asking her for advice! She’s basically my mommy hero!

I think my new friend Lindsey is a kick as mom. She is a single parent and has to handle daily(and life long) medical isses for one of her young daughters that had cancer last year. Through all of this she always seems so happy and fun!!!

I had one of these moments! My son has high functioning autism which can mean a lot of behavior issues we tirelessly work to correct, and a real challenge teaching him empathy. A few weeks ago when I dropped him off at school, there was a family moving toward the school including a little girl in a wheelchair. My son ran up to the school and opened the door, holding it open for the family. Tears!! He might have a different understanding of a lot of things, but the good person is in there. I was so proud of him. ?

My nephew’s mom has a newborn and is taking care of her, my autistic nephew and her disabled husband with memory issues all by herself. She has to be a very strong person, I know she gets no time alone and is always doing things for her family. She tries her best to make sure they all have what they need.

My sister is a great mom! She is a single mom to two great boys! One of my nephews has epilepsy really bad. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to deal with that alone. I love Baby Sideburns!!

#doinggood is my husband! He is so smart, every night comes up with a new way to practice Math facts with our 8 year old that is on the autism spectrum. It amazes me how quickly my sone has picked up the +1 and +2 facts with my husband pushing him and encouraging different ways to learn them. He’s a really good dad!

I constantly feel like the worst parent in the world to my 6 year old twins (boy/girl). But occasionally I see glimpses of the people I am teaching them to be and it makes me think I am not so bad. Like on the first day of school, when the boy was terrified to take the bus to a new school. I was convinced he was not going to get on the bus at all. Then his sister reached out and grabbed his hand, and said, “Let’s Go Benny.” Even though I swear most days they will murder each other before the day is over, when they need each other they are truly there. Or when I buy my kids ice cream (mommy’s favorite) but don’t get any for me….they get to the bottom of their cone, and are just getting into it… and both of them look at me, and say “Mommy, you eat the rest, it’s your favorite.” Every now and then, I think, maybe I am not doing so bad.

My husband is seriously incredible. Don’t tell him I told you that. I’m always thinking “how in the heck are you being so patient and calm about this?!” when it comes to our kids. Not to mention he shows our kids how a mama deserves to be treated. There isn’t a better parenting trait than that. He’s totally #doingood and winning at this parenting thing!

My cousin’s kindergarten-age son wet his pants at school for the first time in ages. When asked why he told his mother it was because the day before, his friend had #2’d in his pants at school and wanted to make him feel better. When I heard this story, I cried. I thought it was so sweet and proved to me that my cousin was doing something right!

I’d like to mention my mother-in-law. Not only did she raise three great people but now watches all of her grandchildren every day so we all have a safe and healthy place to bring our kids. She is tireless and loving to all of them. I hope she knows how much we appreciate her 🙂

My mom is and will always be the best mom. She is always there for me when I need her the most. I love her so much <3

Currently, my husband is kicking *ss as a dad… I’m pregnant with my second and he’s really stepped up his game, taking care of our first and being super patient with me. Which is a miracle since I’ve been super crazy this time around.

My sister…raising 3 kids, two of whom are type 1 diabetics. Basically doing it on her own while going thru a divorce. So much strength!

I do, or have done, every single “sucky” thing in paragraph #6, so I am the choir to your song. But when asked what was most important to him at Christmas, instead of saying “PRESENTS!” like I feared/expected, the sweet man/child immediately answered “being with my family and friends.” Once I picked myself off the floor, I decided I must be doing some parts of the mom thing right!

I think my mom is the best mom she has been going through cancer treatments sense August she is so strong she never complains and is super woman. Not even her own sickness keeps her from taking care of her kids my brother was in a horrific car accident in July and even tho she is going through the battle of her life she has found the strength to take care of her son. From being at his bed side while he is in a coma to rehab and living with her. He has a broken neck, a broken hip and a broken knee nothing has stopped her from battle for her self and for him she is true ply amazing and never takes the credit for raising 3 wonderful kids, I strive to be the best mom like she is.

I often feel like I’m failing…not raising my 5 year old to be empathetic, generous, or selfless. Then one day last week I pick her up and she’s telling me about her day….There’s this boy in her class who is working on some boundary/hands to ourself issues….so she gets in the car and tells me about how she “decided that *boy* is only mean because he is sad….”see Mommy he is mean then no one wants to play with him so he gets really sad and then hits or cries. So I decided to be his friend and sit by him at circle time and play with him at recess. He was so nice all day and now were bestest friends!” I AM raising her good, she saw her friend was hurting and sad so she made an effort to help him. 🙂

I feel like I am failing every day at this parenting thing. I have three boys. I recently went back to school so I am not home a lot. My husband plays Mr. Mom and the kids have developed such a bond with him. I love to see them so close but not going to lie part of me is jealous. My friend who is a mom of 4, which includes a set of triplets seems to #doinggood. She is always organized, her kids eat healthy foods, watch minimal television, and play so well with each other. I have never seen her loose patience in the crazy situations.

My dad is my Parent Hero! My mom passed away from Breast Cancer when I was 11 years old. I have one older sister & two younger sisters. My dad raised FOUR girls on his own. To this day my dad thinks he did everything wrong, but he absolutely did everything right. At one point we were all teenagers and my dad survived that all on his own. My dad struggled daily to try to understand us. There were lots of fights, tears, and eye rolling. But there was also so much laughter & love. Would it have been easier to go to a mom for our “girl problems”? Absolutely. But my dad never once complained about a 10pm run to Kroger for tampons 🙂

I know a lot of awesome moms with kind, caring, respectful kids, myself included. Too many to pick just one.

I want to give a huge shout out to my step dad. He came into our lives when I was 7 and well… I didn’t make things easy on him. I may have been a little %$@*&-rag. Okay… I totally was. Anyway, he didn’t have to love me. And no one would have blamed him if he didn’t. Fast forward 27 years. On Monday, he picked up my mini-van and took it to have a remote starter put in for me. He did it because we live in Indiana and he didn’t want me shlepping his grandkids and myself out in the cold in the mornings. This man went from being some guy my mom dragged in to my weekday dad to a great friend and now an amazing grandpa. I honestly don’t know how we would do it without him. We are so insanely lucky that he put up with all of my crap all of those years. For someone who didn’t have to love me, he’s #doingood.

My sister in law Nicole is amazing. She works full-time, has two kids, a wonderful husband, and a mom recovering from a stroke that happened in the summer. Even on the days that I think she couldn’t possibly do more she surprises me and does something amazing with her family, like a special trips to zoos or amusement parks, or to see Christmas light shoes. Her amazing parenting is accompanied by wonderful friendships, if she has a coworker that needs a day off for whatever reason she’ll fill in for them, and she works in retail so that is truly friendship. When I was pregnant both times if I ever needed help or a ride to the doctors or a shoulder to cry on she was there for me. When I wanted to see my father for the first time in 5 years she drove me to see him, when my mother died she shared in my grief and filled in as a motherly supportive role. I just can’t stay enough good about her, she’s always positive and loving, just the type of person it’s a joy to be around.

My friend is currently dealing with her second preemie child. NICU life is tough – I’ve been there. When you’re in it it’s the worst though and she needs to be reminded of what a rockin’ job she is doing and that NONE OF THIS IS HER FAULT!!!

My husband is on permanent disability and has been a SAHD to both of our daughters since they were born (5 and 2 yo). Although he never ever signed up for it and never wanted to do anything other than work and take care of his family, he takes care of them and tries his best every day to love them and be there for them and put their needs first, even when he’s feeling so sick and just wants to sleep. Even though he was terrified, he’s #doinggood at this whole parenting thing!

That video had me crying. #beingamomishard !!!! This is the toughest, most heart wrenching, selfless, and amazing job I have ever had, I am so lucky to be surrounded by so many other mommies who help me share this journey. We are all #doinggood !!

My sister, who only adopts kids with special needs. Currrently she has two boys, one from China with no hands or feet and one from Ethiopia with spina bifida. She also has three amazing kids that she gave birth to

My kids are 2 and 4. My 4 yr old is the typical drama queen who is always bossing and picking fights with her little brother. He is just finally starting to talk so doesn’t stand up for himself, just goes with the flow. I asked her what she asked Santa for when we saw him at the library. She said pop the pig. Then she whispered “I also asked him for a blaze car and miles from tomorrowland toy for Rocky but don’t tell, it’s a secret. He will be so surprised!”

My cousin Vanessa is #doinggood. No matter what life throws at her, she continues to adapt. As of this summer she’ll have 4 kiddos under the age of 6 and she continues to adapt, rearrange, and not just make-do, but make-awesome for her family. She teaches each of her kids in their individual needed ways, she manages a business while managing her family and is a wonderful wife and mother. It is hard on her and she worries that she’s not as good as she should be but I wish she knew how amazing she is and what a great example she is to her family and to so many others who see what she does!

My friend told me today that although her kid is being as much of a cranky pants as mine she got through a whole day without yelling. I was like, you’re my hero as I don’t think I can do that. But now she has motivated me to do the same and try my hardest even when my kids are the biggest cranky pants! #doingood

Some days i feel like I juat dont get this parenting thing… and then my children will do something amazing that makes me realize that I must be doing something right. For example my middle child came to me to tell me that she was upset because she was not being a good example for her friends, and she wants to be a better person, like they are. It was sweet that she realized her actions affect those around her.
#doingood

My friend Mary is an awesome parent! Her husband is deployed and she does everything for her 5 kiddos and her foreign exchange student all while suffering from some serious health issues. She rocks!

I feel like I fail my kids all the time. I forget to sign test papers, I forget to study. I feel really bad when they get in trouble at school for something I forgot to do. The other day my 9 year old came home from school and grabbed me and held me tight. I was so happy. He said mom you are the best mom ever and I love you very much. It was so awesome because I didn’t do anything at that moment to deserve that. It was just freely given so I figure I must be doing something right. Baby sideburns you are awesome. I love reading your posts.

My sister does not have any of her own children but she was the step mommy to a wonderful little girl for 4 years while she was with the girls father. They recently split up but my sister continues to spend her weekends with this little girl. She loves her like she is her own daughter and refuses to disappear from her life. I’m so proud of my sister for her love and dedication to a child who isn’t her own. This little girl has become part of our family and my own kids love her a the cousin that she has been and will continue to be. Extended family can mean anything!

My mom was the best mom. She was a single parent and then married my step-father. But it wasn’t an easy relationship or home life and she never ever stopped sticking up for us and fighting for us, even when it hurt. And I love her so much for that!! 🙂

My best friend Britta Kelly is the best Mom. When I am complaining about how my kids don’t do x,y,z yet/correctly or if I’m frustrated by something they did/didn’t do, she always reminds me that time with them is short and to cherish the moments. She reads her boys a million books a night, takes them fun places, and holds down the fort while her husband is battling terminal cancer. Britta deserves all the recognition in the world!!

My bestie is one of those people who make you want to be a better person. People are naturally drawn to her. She’s the same way as a parent. She honest to God loves every minute with her girls. She inspires me to be a better mom. She has recently seperated and even through all the bullshit her husband has pulled, her girls see none of it in her. I wish she knew what an amazing parent (and influence) she is!

My sister in law is an awesome mommy. My brother passed away December 21st,2014 from a self inflicted gunshot to the hea . He suffered from PTSD after serving in Iraq. My sister in law was completely devastated,heartbroken. You name it,she was feeling it. He left behind her and their two boys,ages 6 and 10. Though she was suffering a great loss,she still managed to put a smile on her face just 3 days later(Christmas) so that her boys could enjoy their Christmas. She placed my brother photo on top of the tree(Their angel) and she told them he was with them. Her strength had been amazing through all of this. She continues to be an amazing mother and reminds them of memories everyday.

I would like to take a minute to put my kickass self on a pedestal. last night, my daughter, who just turned 2, was coughing so hard in her sleep, I knew what was coming next. I grabbed a bucket and booked it down the hall way. long story short, vomit was flying. it was everywhere. not once did I gag or get all dramatic (anyone who knows me, knows this is a HUGE deal), instead, I just held her. and rocked. and took advantage of the fact that, even know it wasnt willingly, my not so baby anymore, baby, was giving me cuddles in between horrendous gags ♡ it was that moment I realized it didnt matter anymore that her jammies didnt match(halloween bottoms, christmas top. really, kid!?), or that she refused to eat her ham at dinner (thank god, btw), but that she knows im always here for her. im here for her to throw toys at, kick, laugh with, and I will ALWAYS be here to sit on the floor with her late at night, rocking and holding her hair, while she is puking her guts out. forever.

#doingood I totally get the entire post. My 4 year old girl is a pure diva. She tells me she is moving out all the time. Where does she get this crap. I really laughed out loud and teared up with this post. Thank you for reminding us that we are all human. I feel like I am failing every day practically.
My kids do swim lessons. My daughter cries every time she goes into the room without me. I feel like a j**k, but I want her to learn. Last week, she swam on her back with no support. I cheered out loud. Yep, I am that parent. #embarrassing She came out of class cheering too. Very proud day.

I love when my husband plays with our 2 girls. He works overnights and sleeps during the day. That makes weekends extra special in our house. He plays cars, puts together puzzles, wrestles and just makes them laugh.

My husband and I nursed our three month old daughter through pertussis together! We rock! #doingood

My friend is an awesome mom. Her son was born at 26 weeks premature in November after having 3 miscarriages and an adoption fall through. Her sweet boy lived for 4 short days before passing. I have no idea how she has the strength to get out of bed each day. And although her baby only had a short life, she is still a mom. If I won I’d love to take her for a spa day!

I love your blog, it helps me feel like a normal parent. Like not everyone always has it all together all the time. Right now I feel like a pretty awesome parent, my oldest son is 2 hours away for college and he’s actually doing good – he has an apartment with 2 roomates, a job, and goes to classes – he makes me feel like I’ve actually done something right. My 3 younger boys are still at home driving me crazy on a regular basis.

Thank you so much for this blog and events like this! It helps so much to know that you’re not alone and that no matter how together other parents look from the outside, on the inside we’re all worried that we’re doing it wrong! My sister-in-law is #doinggood with her new baby. It’s her first and she made the decision to stay home full time with him. She’s doing so much good with him every day, making good memories and staying positive.

My husband is awesome!! If it weren’t for him I’d probably be in a looney bin! He’s always there for both kids, playing ball or barbies whichever activity the kids are doing at the moment.

I’m a good mom, my adult sons are all ok!

I think my Aunt Melissa is a kick a*s mom. She sacrifices so much for her boys. She is a single mom and will give anyone the shirt off her back. She is an amazing women and deserves the world.

My son is on the ASD. I’m constantly sure I’ve failed him because while he is 16 and drives, works does all the things we were not sure he would do, he still lacks a lot of empathy. A lot of children on the spectrum are usually self centered. It’s not their fault, it’s their wiring. But I feel like I could have done more. It seemed all he Cared about was his Xbox. Until his, ard meeting. I found out my son, who is in all mainstream classes, was instrumental in helping organize the special needs talent show at the high school. He had also been advocating for other teens with autism. My heart was full, he did get it, but he never bragged about it because to him it was just the right thing to do. I must not be failing.

I have a “new” friend, Stephanie, who has 4 kids under 4 (including a set of twins.) She often holds playdates and has a fresh baked treat for the kids. She’s my hero! She doesn’t care how her house looks when we walk in (always cleaner then mine) and will fight with us if we start to clean up. She’s the best!

My mom is the most awesome mom ever and the best part is she doesn’t even know it. She lost her mother at a very young age, had my brother at 16 (with no guidance), went through two horrible marriages, raised us as a single hard working parent, and NEVER gave up! She’s not just my parent hero, but my hero in all ways. She raised us on her own with no help. Having two kids of my own now, I’m not sure how she did it. It takes a special kind of person to keep getting knocked down and to always keep getting back up. She amazing and I’m forever proud of her for all that she is and for all that she does.

My daughter said she “wished mommy were nicer ” after a particularly bad potty training day (pretty sure I scarred her for life). But she can read at 3 so I’m doing something right.

My son was in the hospital for 2 weeks over the summer with unexplained seizures. Hardest time of our lives. But he’s doing great now (had 2 seizures last week.) I would do anything for my kids!

I had a giant proud mama moment last night when my 8-year-old daughter snuck down to the family room to wrap the gifts she MADE for her Daddy, sister, brother and me. I may not be able to be a SAHM like I’d like, volunteer at every PTA function, and sometimes I make them miss swim practice or youth group because I’m just to tired to drive any more, but I obviously did something right to have kids with such big hearts!

My stepdaughter has behavioral health issues and she is often really mean to the people around her (especially her dad) because she’s angry almost all the time, but my neighbor Kim works on her so often, drives her to church, and has her over all the time to hang out with her two girls. She’s a lifesaver, especially since she can really turn our daughter around and cheer her up and send her home able to be kind and respectful again for a while. I hope her girls grow up as great as she is – they’re already pretty good! #doingood

There are times I feel like I fail every day.. we wake up late for school, almost miss the bus, barely eat breakfast, argue over homework, fight over dinner.. It feels like some days are a never ending battle but being a single mother isn’t an easy thing. Then there are days when my son tells me he is happy even though he doesn’t have a father, that at least he has me. Everything else doesn’t matter anymore. I am doing something right.

My mom is doing an awesome job! From the time I was born my mom raised my sister and I as a single mom. Even though my sister and I are grown up now she still looks out for us, calls us everyday and is always there when we need her. On top of this she has been taking care of my grandfather who has dementia since 2005. Along with all of this, her husband (my step dad of 6 years) passed away in the last year which was the hardest thing ever. Through everything my mom remained strong and managed to help my grandparents and my step dads family. I don’t know where any of us would be without the love and kindness my mom shows towards everyone!

My daughter’s teacher says whenever one of her classmates doesn’t have someone to play with or is sad, my daughter Phoebe stops doing what she’s doing and plays with the sad kid. It brought tears to my eyes. Why is she so evil at home and so sweet at school?

Hi–I love your blog! I know we (maybe just I??) complain about our spouses, but have to share a story about my husband getting it right. Both kiddos have whatever crazy sinus/cough thing is going around right now. The other night my husband got up in the middle of the night to lay with my daughter, prop her up on pillows and rub her back to soothe her back to sleep. Then after he got up to take his shower (he leaves super early as a high school teacher) noticed my son was up and coughing and did the same for him. I found my son still peacefully snoring away when I went to wake him up for school.

Although I wouldn’t normally do this, I have decided to nominate myself for #doinggood. My (ex)husband left in July to pursue a relationship with someone else. Instead of letting it beat me and our two children down, we have accepted it and are taking the high road. I was a SAHM so I started an in-home daycare and single parent raise my two babies! It’s hard work but my kids are happy, healthy, and polite. I am still nursing my 14 month old, have a very rambunctious 3.5 year old, and am beginning school in the new year to better myself for them!

I work as a breastfeeding peer counselor for my local WIC office, one of the biggest perks about my job is that my kids can come with me. One day at work a Hispanic family (that spoke no English at all) came in with their little boy with Down syndrome. My awesome son noticed this little boy sitting under a table by himself and instead of choosing to ignore him like everyone else in the busy room was doing, he grabbed some trucks and went under the table to play with him. The smile of both their faces let me know I was doing something right as a mommy. My son didn’t see the little boy’s disability, he didn’t care that they couldn’t speak to each other, he just showed him compassion.

I have a 7 yr old, 5 year old, and 2 year old twins. It’s hard, but everyday I do my best, and I LOVE it!!!

My best friend Kasee had her son at 19. She bravely raised her son as a single mama with very little help from anyone. Sure I helped the best I could and so did grandma (her mama) the best she could from across the country, but the day to day hard stuff she did by herself. She was so worried that she wasn’t doing a good job because she was playing both roles and constantly felt like she was sucking at at least one of them. But here’s how I know that she rocked at raising the best kid ever…..Mason on like day 2 of being the new kid in middle school noticed that all the kids in his class and on the bus were picking on this scrawny kid. You know the kid that like Star Wars and band just a little to much, but anyway this kid couldn’t catch a break. Mason saw all of this and noticed his tears as people taunted him on the bus and watch him get off the bus alone. Without a second though he jumped off the bus (miles from his own stop by the way) and put his arm around this poor boy and walked him home. They talked and he and Mason became buddies pretty quickly. The next day at school he joined him for lunch and made a point of hanging out at break times acutely aware of his own shaky social standing at a new middle school and eventually one of the more popular kids took him aside and asked why he was hanging out with him. He (my handsome jock of a “nephew”) said because he’s freaking cool and wicked smart which you guys would know if you even bothered to get to know him. This could have cemented his standing and the weird new kid but surprisingly enough they invited both boys to join them and now this kid who very quickly could have ended up a victim one of those sad suicide bullying stories now enjoys going to school and had a best friend for life. My best friend is my hero. She raised the best most kind hearted kid I know all by herself. Which we know is freaking hard even when you have help. ☺️

I’m trying to help my 7 year old regulate his emotions. It’s sinking in somewhat because one day I got the time of his extracurricular mixed up and missed his class, so was feeling stupid. He told me not to worry – we all feel bad sometimes, and it hurts for a while, but I’d feel better soon. I did.

I think my husband is an amazing parent! I had to have an emergency surgery and I’m on restrictions from housework. Seriously! My doctor said no housework! Woo hoo! So my hubby works a 12 hour shift and then immediately comes home to take care of our 2 year old matthew and cleans the house. I think he’s better at housework than me!

I love reading your stories. This story made me cry. I work with young adults with congnitive disabilities and this could have been anyone of them. I think all the parents in my program are doing a great job, it’s so tough for them! They rarely get a break and they barely complain, they just do what it takes to help support their children to succeed.

I have moments where I think I have screwed up my kids but I stopped to realize the other day that my daughter, who is 9, is on student council, basketball and drama. I don’t make her do it. She does it because she loves it. So somehow I have managed to be cheerleader enough to make her feel safe and capable of doing much and expanding her horizons. Must be doing something right!

My husband is doing a great job. He works hard at a very demanding job, but he will drop everything for the kids, even if he is in the middle of doing work at home. He doesn’t snap at them and gets down on the floor and plays. He will run around the house and pretend whatever they are pretending. He is an inspiration of what I would like to be as a mom.

So, last night I had to work concessions at our High School basketball game and I let the middle munchkin (9) stay and play with her friends. She ran around, I saw her for like 10 minutes in the 4 hours we were there. When we got home, she told me she didn’t have her homework done, still needed to read and then wanted ice cream. It was almost 9 by this time. I snapped at her. Why you ask? Because when I told her she could stay at the game, it was under the condition that she had to do her homework and read first before playing. UGH. Mom of the year didn’t check (and of course I know by now I have to because kids have the memory of a gnat!). So, back at home, I am all snotty with her. The hubs says, “We both are quick to temper with her.” OY, guilt city I am checking in now. I told her to come over and gave her a snuggle and explained the sitch, which she clearly knew. She was again happy. But, how I know I am at least an okayest mom is that her second grade teacher was at the game and middle munchkin sat with her for a bit and she was so happy. She told me that middle was so sweet, had a great heart and was such a polite and good kid. Guilt city, shall I stay for a week?

I can’t pick one. All the mamas in my world are pretty epic.

Love your blog! Its brave and fun and honest.

I am married but separated and we still live together. I have a step daughter and 2 little boys. Constantly feel like I’m a horrible mom for living like this but can’t decide if being broke is better for my boys (they both play sports and one already has braces $$) or living in a crappy marriage. I’m so worried that they’ll be crappy husbands like their dad. But, I get awesome reports from teachers, neighbors, family members etc that my boys are so kind & well behaved-I must being doing something right. Why is it so hard for moms to see the good they do?

My sister, Taqueesha, is my co parent and hero. She somehow finds time to provide daycare for my two kids and hers while taking them to numerous activities, events and experiences. She recently took my kids to visit the elderly, delivering them Christmas cards and treats. She has endless energy and is an amazing mom!

My sister in Law is one amazing mommy. She had my sweet niece while still in high school and has worked her b**t off to make sure they are well taken care of. While she has been lucky to have a lot of family support, there is no way she wouldnt be where she is today without all the hard work she has put in. She works full time, is getting her licenses to sell insurance. She shows her daughter every single day that hard work is important. She now has one of the nicest and sweetest little 4 year olds, who has her moments of tantrums and melt downs, but also remembers to thank and hug every single person at her birthday party. I couldnt ask for a better play mate and pseudo sibling for my 16 month old. At 21 years old, she inspires me every day, and reminds me that while we all have struggles to get through, we do it together, and we do it with our heads held up high, regardless of what others think they know about our situations.

I have a friend with four kids, two with IEP’s. She is amazing! She works, she runs the PTO at school and her kids are wonderful, kind, funny and sweet. I don’t know how she manages to do it all and be it all, but she does. She’s there for her friends and her family and is involved in our community. She’s my mom-role model and I’m licky to call her my friend!

Sometimes it’s so hard not to lose my patience with my toddler, and when I do I hate myself for it. I feel like the worst mom ever for yelling at him. The one day he asked me to fix his sock that was falling off. I did, and he immediately said “good job Mommy!” I realized in that moment he did that because of how often I say that to him. Usually without even thinking about it. I might lose my patience with him every once in a while, but every single day I’m giving him positive encouragement in ways I don’t even realize. Those are what’s sticking, and I’m very proud of that.

A friend a mine is super mom. 3 boys under 5, no problem. She handles it all, and was always so modest about it. Until her daughter was born. She slept about 90 min at a time. Mom never slept. The boys ran wild, and we previously potty trained 3 year old was back in diapers.

I showed up one Sunday to visit the new baby and found my girl friend in tears. She felt she had ruined her boys lives by having a fourth baby. Her boys had been easy babies, they were happy and slept well and ate like ox. This fourth little peanut was a whole other experience and she felt like she was unable to cope.

I almost laughed. I wanted to welcome her to what 99% of new mom’s feel like. I wasn’t sure how to had always managed, but now I get it, her boys were simply easy babes, and they had made her look like super mom. Rather than laugh, I suggested she go get a shower and a nap while I watched her brood for a new hours. Life is hard, it is meant to be hard.

Now that fitful infant is a 3 year old who is the most helpful in queening her 3 rowdy brothers up to get to school. She is polite, and mild-mannered and sweet as sugar. And her momma sleeps well knowing that she is actually a super-mom, 90% of the time.

I TRY to be a good mom, and that is all we as parents can do. my daughter is 17, and I still love to read your blog, because it reminds me of the “good” old days (haha). We lost our first child to stillbirth, I had a total of 8 pregnancies, and ended up with one very amazing, very talented (she is a dancer and has been since 3), VERY challenging daughter. Through a less than fantastic relationship with our families that live far away, and no help raising her, only judgement, we have managed to raise a pretty cool chick, even though she CAN be a pain in my a*s and a hag at times ;), I love her more than life itself.

I think you are an awesome mom…just like my mom. I had my little girl a few years after my mom retired from teaching. She was enjoying her new work free world, but gave it all up so that I could keep working in a really stressful job. Every morning she would come to the house and pick my daughter up, watch her all day, and then drive her back at night. More often than not she would bring dinner, fold a load of laundry. Or help out around the house. But most of all, she nurtured my daughter…and gave me the peace of mind to deal with all of the other insanity in life. She is my hero!

My husband has been working crazy long hours lately. I’ve also been working like a mad woman. On top of work, I’m still managing to get all 3 kids to gymnastics practice and meets, piano lessons, ice skating, multiple different Christmas programs/plays/recitals/party’s and still plan my oldests birthday sleepover.

So my youngest daughter wanted to make cards for her cousins (my nieces) which I thought was awesome. Then I realize I’m missing $110.00. After I talked to both my girls and went bat s**t crazy accusing my wonderful husband I ransacked my house and still couldn’t find it. It looked like an a-bomb went off in my kitchen!! Once my girls got home from school I nicely and calmly asked them again. I may or may not of f) lied a little and told them that if I didn’t find it that all the Christmas presents were getting returned. She told me that she put 2 dollars in each of the girl’s cards (she doesn’t understand money yet). So I call my sister and tell her to open the cards NOW and sure as s**t one had two twenties in it and the other had a fifty and a twenty. While I appreciate how genourious she is this momma was even more grateful to use the money to finish Christmas shopping!

My friend Laura has 3 beautiful children and 1 on the way. I don’t know how she manages to raise so many wonderful people without completely losing her marbles.

My brother and his wife are about to adopt two sisters, ages 7 and 15. They have a 9 year old daughter too. I admire so much their faith and bravery in taking this challenge on! My brother said the other day, “How is it possible I already love these girls so much?” What a loving guy, and what lucky girls to grow up with a sensitive, thoughtful, and sweet man for a dad.

This post has me in tears. My little boy has autism, he has his first school concert tomorrow and I’m terrified for him. I hope he has a Zoey tomorrow to help him through it?
As for being the worst mom, according to two studies I’ve read in the past two days, I’m 100% to blame for his autism – how’s that for guilt??

I have to say I think that the way you let Zoey pick her own outfits, no matter how crazy, makes you a pretty awesome mom (totally not brown-nosing)! My daughter would come out with some crazy outfits and I always let my fear of what people think make me get her another outfit. She is incredibly creative and quirky, but I held it back a little. So now (age 13) when she walks out in her beautiful semi-formal dance dress with a crazy, nerdy bowtie on I smile because she doesn’t give a crap what people think. That’s not an easy feat for a teenage girl!

My super awesome husband David. He is a teacher (English and Drama), he has green hair, and is the funniest person you will ever meet. He also happens to be by daughters Brownie Leader. The troop was no longer going to exist because none of the other parents were stepping up. He said that he was not going to disappoint a bunch of kids, so there he is…leading a bunch of 8-9 year olds. And they love him because—he is a funny guy, with green hair.

My best friend is a wonderful mom. Her kindergartener little girl stuck up for a kid getting beat up on the playground. The bully a third grader then turned on her. But she is okay. I think if everyone taught their kids to do the right thing and stick up for the underdog the word would be a better place. I just hope I can raise my kids to be as brave and compassionate as my friend is doing.

We are all #doinggood, we are all trying our best at this thing called parent-ting… no manual or directions did the stork bring… everywhere, everyway, we’re putting out kids needs first… so that’s why it hurts when they call us ‘the worst’ 🙁 … we take it in stride, knowing they were just tryin to be snide…they always come along with their HUGE hugs and kisses to make amends, WE ALL LOVE OUR CHILDREN AND WILL DEEP DOWN INSIDE ALWAYS BE FRIENDS! 😉 🙂 ♡ B

I can so relate to this… Christmas is around the corner and no cookies baked or presents wrapped, running to the store today to get my daughter a white shirt for her school concert tonight, one child not speaking to me that e others not listening… But hearing others talk so sweetly about them makes it all worth it.

My best friend. She is raising two extremely down to earth, lovely little kids. I always look up to her for parenting advice. She has been such a role model for me

I would like to tell you about my awesome friend Susan. She started her family a little late in life but she makes the most awesome mom. She has one little girl and then a set of twin boys. Then another little boy after that.
She makes this mom thing look easy. Even though we all know it isn’t. The world needs more committed and awesome mothers like her.

My husband is #doing a good job. He thinks he is letting us down on a daily basis. It’s been a pretty ruff year financially and the kids have not gotten mutch extra. It makes him feel.like a bad dad. He is the greatest dad in the world. He doesn’t think that all he does and all the time he makes for his kids is what matters most.

Wow all of these stories! Each one of them deserves to win! I would like to nominate myself, because I have 2 young boys and didn’t want anymore children. About 3 months ago, my husband and I found out we are expecting. It wasn’t the right time at all, if ever again to get pregnant. Not only did I deal with severe hyperemesis gravidarum with my previous pregnancies, around the time I found out I was pregnant I was dealing with some depression and mental illness. Life was a daily struggle. Then to find out I was expecting.. No, no, no.. I was taking powerful anti-depressants & knew immediately that I was going to stop taking my medication. Then came the sickness.. Every day, ALL day for almost 3 months. I felt like I was dying. Sure it didn’t help I just took myself off my medication.. I was in and out of the hospital and lost so much weight. I felt terrible about not being able to take care of my children, my husband or my home. FINALLY the sickness subsided just as quickly as it had come and life is slowly going back to normal. I am a stay at home mother and can now take care of my boys again. I know when they look back on their childhoods, they won’t remember the few short months mom was out of commission. They’ll look back and remember the days we spent together and know mom loves them.

I think I do ok as a mom. I am a stay at home mom but I also have an in home daycare. I never wanted to do daycare but my sister-in-law came to me one day and need care for her two boys ASAP. I wanted to help and said yes even though I now had to get up at zero dark early to let them in. Once they were old enough to go to school I took in a few more kids. There have been many hard times when I think that I’m not giving my own children enough of my time but the best part of being a mom is when I see them providing care or comfort to another child or even an adult who might need it. That is the moment that I know I am doing at least one thing right.

Sometimes I feel like a crappy mom for wishing I hadn’t wasted my degree and experience to be a stay at home mom. But every time my daughter remembers to use her manners or picks up her toys without me having to tell her, or kisses me for no reason, I remember that it’s not just my time, it’s our time. And she’s turning out pretty great.

My husband! He’s an awesome dad, our boys live him and I know I give him too much s**t sometimes.

I’m a single mom and feel like I’m doing so crappy most days. I yell more than I want (he’s JUST like me as a kid), but then I see him give another kiddo a hug or do something sweet and I know I’m doing alright!

I have four children ages 9, 5,4, and 2. My 5 and 4 year old were both very I’ll and we practically lived in a hospital for a while. I felt like a horrible mother because my oldest was always getting put last. I felt like I had completely failed him. A few days ago a lady who works in the school cafeteria sent me a message telling me how great of a job I am doing with my kids. She said everyday before they eat breakfast or lunch they both bow their heads and say grace before eating. This brought tears to my eyes. Apparently, somewhere in all the craziness and chaos of our lives I am doing something right!

I completely understand this, I feel like I am missing out on so much and in turn being a terrible mom. My daughter is 7 and I try every night to make sure I read her a book and tuck her in at night. After my day job, I make dinner, help with her homework, tub time, snack and book/bed time, clean up dinner and then I do my homework well into the night. I am in school and work a full time job so some nights I go to the library or have to lock myself in my bedroom for hours just to finish an assignment on time. She makes sure to tell me how awful I am why I am doing all of these things just because I cant read her that book. I know in the long run getting my accounting degree is going to be great for the family. Keep on trucking is all I can do..

My sister in law who is currently battling stage 4 breast cancer. Despite all the treatments and how tired she is she always make sure to attend her children’s school functions and to spend as much time with them as she can.

My Aunt. She is divorced and raising two sons – a 13 yr old and a 5 yr old with Downs Syndrome. She and their dad make it work for the kids, and she works part time while managing doctor’s appointments, therapy, etc. that comes with parenting a special needs child.

I am nominating my best mommy friend Jenn Cruz as kickass mom! She has twin 7 year old girls and a 4 yo boy, works a full time demanding job and still manages to have her sh!t together, feed her kids good food, do all the running around that needs to be done and does it all with a smile! Love her! We have known each other since we were 13 years old, when we were little a-holes ourselves. The best part about her and our relationship is now our children consider each other “cousins”. <3

I started The Pohl Foundation after my sister Deb Pohl died. Deb was an incredible woman who always found the best in people and was always doing anything she could to help people. The purpose of The Pohl Foundation is to do acts of kindness. Each year during the holidays I choose a family or person who are struggling for various reasons. This year I met a single father of two, who is doing EVERY THING RIGHT, but as we all know life throws us unexpected curve b***s and this gentleman has been hit by several in a row, including his daughter being diagnosed with a serious health issue in the last few months. He didn’t know about my foundation when he told me; “I don’t know how I’ll be able to do anything for the kids for Christmas with all of the medical expenses, the water pipe break and vehicle repairs. But having my daughter well again is all that our family needs.” I chose this family to raise funds for this year. There’s no doubt that single mothers are heroes, however single fathers are rarely recognized for being the heroes they are! 16% of all single parent families are headed by single fathers. I’d like to nominate him as “doing good” for he truly is!

I always think I am the worst mom ever, especially when 1 of my 3 kids (or all of them) decide to have a melt down for some really dumb reason and we are out in public. Then I have to remind myself all the things I do for these little monsters like walking my oldest to school 1 1/2 miles away (6 miles a day) in the freezing cold on top of all the daily mommy must do crap. So yes I think I am a good mom (for the moment, until one of them has another meltdown over getting red juice when they wanted blue juice for lunch.. fml) lol

I often feel like I’m not doing so well as a mom, but the first thing my kids do every morning is come and give me hugs, kisses, and tell me that they love me, so I must be doing something right!

I’m shouting out my husband. He is usually quite patient with our 3 children (boy, almost 9 – girl, almost 7 (and yes, puberty already?!?! Holy mood swings!) – and boy, age 3). Our oldest isn’t officially dx’d as on the spectrum, but I’m certain he will be … and he has his “quirks.” Mostly sensory stuff and narrow focus of interest…While he and I have an amazing relationship, there is something so special about the bond he and his father have. Whereas I tend to not push him to discuss uncomfortable things because I don’t want to create even more anxiety about things,(for him, social anxiety is a big problem so he doesn’t like talking about who he played with, etc), his Dad has the ability to get him talking and talking about he FEELS about these things. It’s amazing. And I just listen, amazed and so grateful. And I take some tips from him and work on being able to reach in through the wall and find that way to make my kid talk, too.

And the hubby is a pretty great dad to the other crazies, too. 🙂

My daughter has a peanut allergy and a lot of times people make it sound like its my fault. I know it’s not true but it makes it hard. I get frustrated at my kids easily cause they don’t listen but I know they know I love them.

My friend Dave is hands down the best parent I know. He was left to raise his two kids–a son who is 14 and a daughter who is 10–years ago when his wife left them all behind. He works restaurant hours (lots of nights and weekends) to support them. Despite his difficult work schedule, he makes time to build amazing memories for his kids. He leads Girl Scout activities, attends the Nutcracker and sound of Music performances, bakes, throws amazing sleepover birthday parties, visits Santa, face paints, crafts, cooks, hikes, camps, etc. with his daughter. He cheers on the football games, rents a tux for the band performance, tutors, carpools, helps with homework, goes on jogs, etc. with his son. Without help from family, who live across the country. All with a huge smile on his face and not a lot of cash in his pocket. He is the happiest and most proud parent I know and his kids are a wonderful product of his love. To top it off, he never utters an unkind word about the person who left them all behind. He deserves this more than anyone I know.

A friend of mine gets a $5 target gift card for every day in December and whenever she’s out and about with her kids, they make a point to find people doing nice things for others and give them the gift card. It’s a small token, but it alwas brightens people’s days.

My sister is so amazing. She adopted her soon through foster care (he was a drug baby) and also fosters other kids all while working full time and dealing with my nephew and his special needs. He is overly aggressive and can be a real pain in the b**t. I don’t know how she does it.

I love my kids, but they have too much stuff. My fault, not theirs. But anyway, I told them that Santa probably wasn’t bring new video games to kids that already had too many, and I got them to get rid of their Wii, a bunch of games and some other stuff. Later that night my 7yo said to me – “Mom, I don’t even want a PS4 anymore. Let some other kid have it. I’ll just take whatever Santa wants to give me.” Awwwwwwww. I don’t know if this is good parenting or not, but, I give myself at least a little credit for half the DNA.

I’m doing the best I can at this mom thing. It’s really challenging. I often think I’m doing it all wrong but then I get a glimpse of how amazing they are and realize I must be doing something right. Now, if only I could figure out what it is so I can keep doing it. I really am lucky to have such special little people in my lives.

My mom…she is amazing as a mom but even more amazing as a grandma to my 4 year old and 2 year old. She retired and now watches my kids for me all week…and she schleps them to preschool, mommy [grandma] and me classes, music, dance, the play tree at the mall, to see the [creepy] Easter Bunny when I forgot, the park, for picnics, out to lunch with friends, shopping at toys r us (what!? How!?), to the movies, panera for the only meal they will both eat without complaining or throwing on the floor and countless other activities. She gets my kids dressed in the morning, bathes them, brushes teeth, fights my daughter every morning to brush her hair, washes their pjs and feeds them 3 meals a day plus snacks. I am exhausted just thinking about all she does for me, my husband and them. Some retirement she is having, but she does all this and so much more and I am grateful and in awe. I hope I can be 1/2 the mom she is one day when I can keep up with her. I think she deserves the gift card actually…time to go shopping for some more presents for her because suddenly I feel like nothing is enough! Thanks for all the laughs and making the craziness that is parenting seem “normal” to us all!

My mom was a single mother who worked full time as a teacher dealing with other people’s kids all day, graduate school at night, and still managed to be both mom and dad to my brother and me. For a few years she had to also care for her own mother who was dying of cancer. My mom did it all, and while no one is perfect, she did the best she could do and and helped shape us into pretty good people. Even now she doesn’t hesitate to put a lot of miles on the car to drive for hours to come help me as a new mother. I know she feels like she failed in so many ways but I couldn’t have asked for a better mom.

My friend Siobhan is not only an amazing parent to her own 2 children but she’s amazingly generous with her time, traveling to South America for the past 2 years to help out poor children who don’t have much. Their families are poor and she travels with her church group to bring them little presents that they normally would not get. She’s going again for the third time this January and she’s definitely worthy of a #doingood story

My dad got full custody of my three siblings and I when my parents divorced. Ages 9months to 5 years. He raised us as a single dad, and none of us died! I’m now 25 and married and have like a bajillion photos of terrible outfits and Baby Spice hair with clown make up that I actually wore in public. And stirrup pants in psychedelic colors inside these pink rain boots I apparently wouldn’t ever take off. Where was I going with this again? Oh yeah, my dad is a total badass and the best parent ever, even though I know he questioned himself all the time. I’m a very lucky kid!

Parenting is tough and each kid is different. Everyone is just doing the best we can, thanks for the reminder that for all the things we get wrong, there are things that are turning out alright.

My mom seriously is like super mom. There is no real way to explain how she has taught me to have the utmost faith and respect for humanity. Seven years ago she signed up to be a surrogate, yes seven! She was totally dedicated to the process of shots and hormones and getting implanted and more hormones, did I mention hormones? She had heartache and pain for over five years. Multiple miscarriages and even an ectopic pregnancy requiring surgery. One day it finally worked. She was pregnant!!!

In Jamuary 2014, she was very pregnant and was put on bed rest. The baby was sideways and cutting off the blood supply to her hips. Due to this she got something called Avascular Necrosis (AVN). Her hips were literally breaking just because she was getting out of bed for the bathroom. The doctors decided that since my mom didn’t want to take pain medication out of fear that the baby would be born with issues that she needed to deliver before his due date. Guy was born absolutely perfect but moms hips were wrecked. She had her first major surgery two days after he was born and through it all she was amazingly strong. Always smiling when she wanted to be screaming in pain. She never let anyone see how bad it really was.

The surgeon told her he had never seen so many fractures in one hip and someone having the ability to go on with everyday life. Mom has always known that she has like the worst luck possible so when the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh surgery didn’t take care of the issue she just laughed at the doctors. She said if she doesn’t laugh she would always be crying. She’s only upset or sad that the doctors have told her that she can’t finish the family for the intended parents. Her OB doc even removed her other Fallopian tube because mom kept telling her that she would be able to some day make it happen. Mom was so determined to be that wonderful person that she is and complete the job she had started.

Fast forward to today and mom is still stuck in bed. She hates that she is no longer completely independent. She has many more surgeries ahead to get things to where they were before pregnancy. All of this has made me remember how important it is to make others happy. Guy is absolutely perfect and the parents are happier than I think I’ve ever seen anyone.

Generally the entire month of December we do random acts of kindness but due to her condition we have been unable to. I would love nothing more than someone to give my mom something for all of her kindness and dedication to everyone else not just me as her child.

No matter how much my teen drives me crazy enough to get all of his electronics taken away so often that I have them more than he does or how stubborn (and exactly like me) my 6 yr old is I know I’m doing a good job with them every time I turn the tv on and see another teen violence story. My kids get great grades, are respectful (at least to other people) and stay out of trouble. I’m definitely doing something right!

My wife is such an amazing step parent. She doesn’t have any bio kids but she treats my bio kids like they are hers. She always tells the funniest stories and brings so much joy. I didn’t have a mother growing up (my mom is schizophrenic ) and she’s taught me so much of what it’s like to be a good mom. I’d love to treat her to something special 🙂

My husband is working on his PHD, which is way more work and time consuming than I ever thought the process would be. Despite all the mental stress and hours he puts in to reading, writing and teaching he still makes quality time for our girls (all while showing them the importance of hard work and growing yourself). Sometimes he feels like hes absent too much, but I can tell by their bond that he is giving them what they need.

I would love to nominate myself. I’m a stay at home mom but I’m basically single parenting right now. My husband (bless his heart) has been traveling and working from sun up until sundown so I’m taking care of both my kids all day and night. It’s tough but add holiday shopping and prepping for our trip to visit family for the holidays I’ve got a lot on my plate. This card would just help us a lot right and ease some of the stress.

Every year, a group of friends and I get together to adopt a family for the holidays. Yesterday We delivered over $500 worth of gifts to a single mom and her 4 kids. I call that #doingood for sure

I can be a very dramatic person and can blow something stupid way out of proportion. I am constantly trying to realize this and NOT hurt my kids’ feelings. But almost every night I snuggle with each of them in their bed and we talk about their day and it feels like it’s my redo. I love those moments.

I want to nominate my husband for doing a great job as a dad, to my oldest daughter as a stepdad of a 17 year old teenager (not easy!!), his own 10 year old daughter on a shared parenting schedule, and our newest addition, one year old Abby! He is outnumbered by women and works at two different fire houses, but is able to balance work with everyone’s schedules, including my own full time job, to make sure that everyone is taken care of,and has what they need, where and when they need it!!

Parenting is by far the hardest job I have ever signed up for! My mom star is my mom. As a single mom she was always my idol growing up. She worked two jobs so that she could put food on the table, allow us to live in one of the safest neighborhoods to attend the best schools. Every thing she did, she did for me and my siblings. As a mother I trying every day to do as great a job as her but routinely I feel as though I fall short. No matter what she has taught me to try my best and be the best me I can be. For her and my kids I will do just that!

At one of my daughter’s conferences last year, her teacher was sure to tell me that my daughter went our of her way every day, to include a special needs girl in the classroom activities. And often played with her when no one else would. That meant more to me than anything else the teacher said during the conference. Maybe I’m doing something right too.

At a travel basketball game last weekend, my son’s teammate was seriously injured, resulting in a broken leg. The Mom, Chrissy was phenomenal in the face of a crisis. Her son is also diabetic, so she had to monitor his blood sugar, keep him calm and oversee his care until the EMTs arrived. She did it all with grace and dignity! By the way, she is a widow, her husband was a veteran who’s been gone for 4 years now. She is a single parent of two young children and she is definitely #doinggood.

I was up all night with a two year old who vomited pretty much everywhere but the toilet. And my husband was out of town. I think that counts.

My mother in law rocks! I am starting a new job next month, I’ve been out of work going to college. My mother in law has decided to help me with our kids by retiring so that she can pick them up from school so they don’t have to ride the bus or so we don’t have to pay after school care!

You can keep the prize, donate it to a shelter whatever, but when 16&12 were younger I had the same doubts as a parent, we ALL do, but when I think my 2 teenage (almost) girls are going to drive me insane, I just listen to some of the other parents. That’s when I want to kiss the ground and realise how blessed and easy I’ve had it (and please God it stays that way) from 5 weeks both girls slept through the night, no problems in potty training, both girls are straight A students, brilliant reports all through school, no problems with their behaviour. In fact I am so blessed to have such good kids, hell im nearly 43 and not one grey hair! My girls aren’t Angels, they both have their moments but compared to some other kids, I have no reason to complain and please God it stays this way lol

Wow, how did you get in my head!? I swear I think I must be the worst mom out there sometimes! But there’s this; every night when I put my two youngest (of 5) to bed, I read stories, skip pages, and tell them to go to sleep. But before I’m allowed to dare leave the room, I have to go over everything we did that day. Sometimes I want to rush and just leave them to go to sleep, but when I talk about everything we did that day, I’m reminded that I did a pretty kick -a*s job after all. So yes, I’m nominating myself. Because I haven’t bought myself new clothes (besides maternity and nursing and my youngest is 13mos) in years, I hide in the bathroom to check my FB (like, um, now) and it’s about time I do something for myself! Heck, even if I don’t win, I’m still gonna go all crazy pants and go buy some new underwear. Yeah!

Wow I was trying to type this on my phone while my baby kicked me so please excuse all the typos. I’m embarrassed but I think you get what I’m trying to say.

I think my niece is a kick a*s mom! She is a single mother to a 2 month old beautiful baby girl. She has spastic quadriplegia. Although it’s not as bad as it sounds, it will get worse. Much worse. It effects her legs and sometimes she falls so she doesn’t carry baby very often and is still a kick a*s mom. Baby is so smart and advancing beyond her age already. Even the dr says so. She also doesn’t drive but makes sure she gets herself and baby to all appointments and that baby has everything she needs. She is a kick a*s mom and I am so very, very proud of her!

I am not an awesome mom but, would like to share something that made me swell with pride. I have a beautiful toddler, work full-time, am going through a bad divorce and feel completely stressed. 99.99% of the time I feel like a failure because I could not do crafts with her, or, I let her watch too much TV, etc. Not to mention Mom guilt 🙁

Over thanksgiving, we visited a friend who has a 10 month old. My daughter, the “take apart/destroy everything in sight” toddler became the gentle big sis. She insisted on giving the baby her bottle, successfully feeding her & sang lullaby’s too! That day I came back home, put my daughter to bed early and felt so good. I felt like I was doing at least something right and that maybe my daughter will be OK. I even forgot (for a second) that I still had 3 rainy days with her by myself….

Me!

My mom was diagnosed with MS in 1982. It was so hard for her to keep up with everything going we as kids did. She went from walking with a cane to now using a motorized cart. She has never once given up and let us do what we wanted. She always made sure we were doing what was right. She has now continued the tradition with the grandkids. She will even play hockey in the driveway with them while she is in her chair!

I can so relate to everything you’re saying!!! But in all seriousness, my husband is the best dad ever. I had three girls before meeting him. As a single mom, as much as I thought i had it together, I never ever ever knew how much my girls needed a strong man in their life until he came along. He is the greatest daddy to them. This past year we had twin girls. That’s right we now have 5 GIRLS… let that sink in all. Five girls ranging from 5 months to almost 10 years — needless to say it gets a little hectic in our house. But my husband is a trooper. He really does everything he can — from working 10+ hr days, to braiding hair and playing tea parties, to make sure our girls have absolutely everything they could possibly ever need (and usually want) So here’s to my husband — the most amazing, strongest, and patient man on earth. We’d be lost without him

My mother in law is #doingood this year for sure. Her children are mostly grown and out of the house, but her youngest just came out as transgender and she’s doing a lot more active parenting and supporting. She’s been unbelievably awesome, being both a parent and a best friend to her daughter, helping her in what is a very difficult and emotional time.

Love your blog! You kill me every time! We all have those “I’m the worst mom moments” and then you girls visit a nursing home with girl scouts and are the only kids to go around to every single resident’s room to make sure that they get some flowers and hugs! Proud mommy moment! Makes up for all the crazy ones!

2 little ones and we both work full time. I think we are doing well- kids are fed, clothed and (mostly) clean. The rest of the responsibilities….weeeell I’ll get to the cleaning eventually.

I think my sister is doing a kickass job at parenting. She had four kiddos of her own and also the most precious foster baby who will hopefully join the family permanently in the next few months. I don’t know how she handles it’s it, but she seems to always look and act put together. I on the other hand have two boys and pregnant with a third and I could lose my s**t at any moment lol! #doingit

My best friend Melissa, who introduced me to your book and has made me love you forever, is a rock. Her husband is in Afganistan and she raises 3 boys on her own. She changes her own oil, does house repairs, takes her boys to football practice (and stays to watch) all while holding a job and keeping a good sense of humor. I know she doesn’t always feel she has her shi*t together, but she is an inspiration to moms everywhere 🙂

My kids aren’t getting anything from me for Christmas this year and I’m not going to be able to cook a good meal, just potato soup. Instead of complaining or begging they both said that they didn’t need anything and that they didn’t care what we had for dinner. I have been a single mom to them most of their lives and always feel like I’m letting them down. I have never really been able to do much for Christmas but this year has been harder than any other. Even with working 3 jobs i cant seem to make ends meet. Never once have they asked for anything that wasnt really a need and in fact go without anything they can. I did something right because they know Christmas isn’t just about what you get.

My friend is an awesome mom to 3 young kids. She’s also a very strong person and a great friend – always there for everyone. Her husband died unexpectedly 2 years ago, and since then she has put herself through school, and is now working nights to provide for her family. Her niece, another friend, and I, take turns sleeping at her house, and watching the kids. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it’s enough, but we’re all doing our best (parents, family, friends, etc.), and that’s what matters.

I feel like I’m falling as a mom but then my 12 yr old (which acts like everything I do is annoying and horribly embarrassing) went with me to the nursing home and visited with some of the dementia patients and brought them presents and was very patient and explained what each item was for when they looked like they had never seen anything like it before (like one lady was so confused about a scarf). There is a kind person in there! 🙂

I normally wouldn’t nominate myself for something like this but I felt I was #doinggood last night when my 2 year old daughter asked me for an apple for a snack. I know I definitely give her more “junk” food than I should but it made me so happy that she asked that!

What a touching story. My father passed away three days before my 17th birthday, but prior to that was barely around. My mother was everything to me and although I have always loved her, it took me becoming a mother just to realize just how perfect of a mother she is and was. She provided for me throughout my entire life and was so selfless. She was always there for me despite all of the times I let her down and hurt her. We all have our faults, but I look at her with amazement in my eyes as well as admiration. I know that if I could just be half the mother she is, I’m on the right track. She is not only my best friend and the best mother a person could have, but now, she is also the best grandmother two beautiful boys could have.

My husband is my amazing parent! I travel for work and typically am away from home Monday thru Thursday. My husband is a stay at home dad and has given me the ability to continue growing my career. Even though it is hard for me to be away from them, I know our adorable, crazy 2 year old daughter is safe and loved because he is there always.

My brother, after everything hes been through he is an awesome kick a*s dad to his daughter, they are best of friends and hes also the best godfather a little boy could alhave. We love uncle bacon 🙂 (its really his nickname lol)

My brother in law was widowed when my sister passed away, leaving him with a 2 1/2 year old to raise. Two years ago he remarried a wonderful woman. I’m going to recognize the both of them…my brother in law for always putting my niece first and his wife for loving my niece unconditionally. it takes a special kind of person to be able to do that.

I am so incredibly thankful for my mommy friends, because being a mom is the hardest job I have ever had. Being able to text or message these ladies and vent about my 8 year old rolling her eyes and saying WHATEVER, and not being judged for hiding in the bathroom while I cry wondering what I am doing wrong.

I think I’m the worst mother ever on a daily sometimes hourly basis. But whenever I read one of your posts I always feel better- NOT because I think “oh goody- she’s worse than me,” but because I realize I’m not alone in this crazy battle called motherhood. You say things I’m thinking, share experiences that I can totally relate to, and you remind me to laugh. That being a mother is hard but it’s also fun and rewarding (usually). I try to remember that all moms are part of a team- we are all going through this and we need to be kind to each other. We need to support each other, laugh with each other and cry with each other; not tear each other down. That just makes every mom’s job harder. Thank you for keeping it real!

I want to nominate by best friend and true soul sister for the prize pack. Her name is Julie Fontaine and she lives in Massachusetts. We’ve been friends for almost 20 years now. She was the first person I called when I found out I was pregnant (even before my husband). I had been told by doctors I shouldn’t get pregnant due to a previously undiagnosed autoimmune disorder. I was in shock when I found out that despite our efforts to not get pregnant I was in fact going to have a baby. She was with me every step of the way. When I developed preeclampsia and had to deliver 8 weeks early she was the first person at the hospital. She became Auntie Julie and was a second mom to my daughter as I recovered from kidney failure as a result of the pregnancy.

I wasn’t there when she gave birth to either of her beautiful children. We had moved 3000 miles away to California. Her oldest has severe food allergies. They discovered his dairy allergy while he was still in the womb. She gave up all dairy (including ice cream!) After the rest of his allergies were diagnosed she became a chef. He rarely feels deprived when other kids are eating things he can’t have. Everything she makes is amazing. He accepts his allergies in a way most kids could not. I would want to keep my kid in a bubble but he goes about his life like any other 8 year old boy. For as much as he is an even-keeled, compassionate and unusually mature kid his little sister is well, more spirited. What I truly love about Julie as a mother is she gives each of her kids exactly what it is they need. They are never coddled, there are natural consequences when they make a bad choice and they are unconditionally loved. Both her and her husband work, money is tight, but she soldiers on and her kids are healthy and happy. This last summer we were able to fly her and the kids out to visit us. Every minute I watched her with her kids I was in awe of her grace as a mom. I know she struggles and I know it’s not always unicorns and rainbows. But she is without a doubt the kind of mom I strive to be!

Our local elementary school gives out prizes for character development. My firstborn child started at that school in kindergarten and received a character development prize in 4th grade, shortly before the teacher emailed the class asking if anyone’s child had not received one of these awards yet. In kindergarten my daughter won the prize for being “kindest”. In first grade she told me that she thought she was being recognized again and I told her that I thought they had to recognize everyone first. I did not attend the ceremony and missed seeing her recognized (again) for her kindness.Luckily for me, my daughter’s Reading Buddy won the 4th grade “kindest” prize and her mom took photos of both girls together. Happy my daughter is turning out ok, that she had such a nice reading buddy and that her reading buddy’s mom took time to make my daughter feel special too.

My mom is my inspiration. She does everything for us kids and is always making sure we are happy, even now that we are adults. As a parent now, i hope to be as good a mom as mine was.

I like to think I have kickass Mommy moments, but I have a friend who I truly believe is one of the most kickass mommies on the planet. I’ve known her since we were kids and she has been through a lot but still manages to be the best mom to her kids. She lost her first son to SIDS when he was 5 months, her 2nd son has severe autism, she just had her 3rd son over the summer, and she is also raising the most loving little girl who looks out for her younger brothers. My friend quit her job to devote more time to her autistic son (and her entire family). She still contributes financially by making amazing cakes for special occassions, and she is self-taught. I totally admire her and strive to be even a fraction of the mother she is to all of her children 🙂

My husband. I recently decided to go back to work afafter being a stay at home mother for 7 years. My husband has been cooking suppers and doing laundry (including folding!!!). He has been the best supporter as I make this transformation, and work full time. Which, for the first time ever, I have a job that includes insurance for the whole family. So, I nominate my husband. He’s amazing. #doingood

My friend Beth is doing good. No, she’s doing great! With 2 boys, 3 & 5, and a baby girl, 3 mos, she manages to regularly shower and eat, home school her oldest, and get her rug rats out of the house for fun play time pretty much every day! As a first time momma of 1 (5 month old, preemie) I am totally inspired by her! I’m still terrified at the thought of having more, but she makes it look almost easy.

I’m doing something wrong ~ my 23 year old daughter hasn’t moved out yet!!

Dang! Offer a little $$ and everyone is your biggest fan 😉 *But seriously, thanks! And thanks to Minute Maid and Coca-Cola too. Ho Ho Ho. My husband travels a LOT for work. And I work 4 days a week supporting an upper level executive (who is sent from heaven and let’s me have a 3 days weekend with my munchkins). This week has been really hard… Christmas stuff, parties, events to plan, kids to bathe, feed, teach how to be good humans, and the hubs is gone… But! Guess What! He came home for a surprise 2 hours yesterday… like drove for 5 hours to be home for 2 bc he knows I’m losing my $h!t. So my #doinggood is a shout out to the hubster for helping… even when he really couldnt!

I just had a doing good moment last night when my son was at basketball practice and an autistic not from another school was there and he was the one kid being nice and the boy asked if he wod be friends and even offered my son a dollar for that, which my son said no money was needed! Loved this and it made me cry!

My daughter is 10 years old and is an only child. I always feel like the “bad guy” because I’m the main disciplinary parent, I’m a stay at home mom. So I feel I’m doing everything wrong and do no right. But from the time she started pre-k to today, I hear from teachers and parents of students on how kind hearted and respectful she is to others (even when others aren’t to kind to her) My first memory is when she was in pre-k. They were going around to local businesses trick or treating for Halloween. When I went to pick her up, the teacher pulled me aside and said that my daughter said please and thank-you to every single person they went to, and she was the only one that did!! Talk about a proud Mom moment! Even now we hear how kind and respectful she is to others. With that I know I’m #doingood as a Momma!

I have 3 boys. My oldest is 13 with autism, and the others are 11 and 8. I think all the time that I suck at this whole mom thing. When my son was diagnosed with autism at 3, I realized that maybe I wasn’t the worst mom in the world and there was an explanation for why he was so out of control. I have fought like hell for him to get the services he needs, and he will be going to high school next year. I am proud to say that he is an honor student and has many friends and the teachers comment all the time about how polite and helpful he is. We’ve come a long way and still have a long road ahead, and I still suck at this sometimes. 🙂

My son complained one day that the new neighbor next door yelled at him and some other kids cause they rollerbladed on her driveway when he was ten. A few days later, I looked out the window and saw him laying under her car with tools on the ground. I went out and asked him what he thought he was doing (praying that he wasn’t “fixing” her brakes!) and he said he was changing her oil. So I asked, 1) does she know you’re doing this?, and 2) do you know how to do that? He said “yes mom, I watched dad”, then he added that her kids didn’t have a dad, so someone needed to take care of them! I then knew I wasn’t doing to bad as a Mom! And, of course, I had my husband check it when he got home, but didn’t let my son know, he said he did a great job, but now we needed to go buy some more oil for our cars!

#doinggood is my mother in law! She puts all the kids and grandkids before herself and is incredibly generous with everyone. She loves spoiling everyone!

Divorced Mom of 2…I cry most nights thinking of all the things I screwed up that day pertaining to the kids: forgot to pack a lunch; didn’t give a long enough hug goodbye; missing the music program to attend a work conference. The kids remind me of all the things I do wrong, too. I know it will get better. I watch them interact with the world and see their kind-hearted spirits, bright and stubborn personalities, and their knowledge of so many things. It will be okay. They are doing okay, more than okay. I am and will be okay!

I honestly don’t even know where to start! I have 4 kid’s of my very own and a stepson.Ages 9,9,8,7,4. Ohh lord someday’s I could lituarally pull out every string of hair attached to my head!! For instant right now! The kid’s have been put to bed 900 million time’s and still acting like I do not exist.well first thing I blurt out is that is it I am done!! Do not speak to me tomorrow, Do not ask for a snack, Do not even look at me because I am so mad. I gmhead toward’s my get away room (The Bathroom, and my four year old son scream’s out (Fine then mommy, I don’t like u anymore you’re a chicken nugget!! I am like are u serious? He say’s nope don’t speak to me all I like is Daddy! I am like hum and shut the bathroom door. By then I am tore up bc I feel shitty that I just became the worst mother ever! That’s not all!! My 7 year old daughter tell’s me this morning it is pajama day at school!! I say no it is not, she throws a fit arguing it is. ( honesty I thought it was tomorrow) so I put her in blue jean’s and she crying all the way to school! I leave and start thinking omg what if she is right? What if I just sent her in blue jean’s to school crying bc today was pajama day!! I go to pick them up andI will be damned I the WHOLE kindergarten class did not come out in there pajama’s.all but my daughter. First thing she say’s is I told u so, u madw me look stupid today!! Oh geez.#1worstmom reward goes to ME!! i have a son 8, with Down syndrome, everybody elses parents can throw up sign language bc thats what the speech therapist would like done!! Not this momma , I suck at it!! I have tried but yet to succeed. So once again I am standing there like I swear it aint because I have not tried.I mean I can go on and on bout me being the wonderful mother of 5 little rugrat’s but I will let it end saying.I have deffently realized I prob do not deserve the mother of the year reward. But I try my hardest to be the best I can be and at the end the day they still need, and want there mommy.and that-s all I need myself is my babies.

“If you can, you should.” That is my motto when it comes to helping others. I volunteer in both my kids classrooms, am both their basketball and teeball coaches, and sometimes I don’t lose my s**t when they are fighting constantly over who did something no one else in the world gives a rats a*s about.

My son has been late to school 7 times in one trimester. It’s always by a minute but it feeds his anxiety of tardiness and starts his school day panicky. His actual day starts an hour earlier with me telling him 900 times to get out of bed and for God’s sake you don’t have pants on yet?! The school has a dress code and it’s not just socks. Then there’s the rush of eat you toast because a full blown breakfast isn’t possible in 10 minutes, brush your teeth with YOUR toothbrush….actually move it around, put on your shoes…your tie shoes…ya know whT? Screw it, Velcro shoes…we have 1 minute to get out the door. Where are your sisters? Carp, the baby pooped, the toddler is scaling the christmas tree, and somehow I failed to reAlize you put on a pair of pants two sizes too small. We’re late.
Then, after school the girl you like is gifted with jewelry from another boy in class. On the walk home home you tell me this little boy doesn’t know what real love it because “it’s not jewels or rings. It’s being brave, taking risks, and being helpful.” Wise words from a 7 year old boy. So my husband and I must be doing something right.

I love your blog! It never fails to make me laugh!

I know this girl who was part of a foster family when she was growing up, although I am pretty sure she was an original. But they never made any of their children feel left out or unspecial or not like true family. Well, now this girl is grown up, and has started a family of her own. She has two or three foster kids, and a couple more of her own, and one brewing in the oven! She is a stay at home mom, teaches her kids all the necessities to life, plus home schools them all! Her husband is a great guy who works a very full time job, but at least is able to get his hours in four days and have three days off unless he has to travel far for special things. I envy her. She is so brave. I wish she knew about this blog. Oh yea! She even makes her own clothes for the kids, and even let’s them help design it!

A friend of mine lost her husband a few months ago. She was a stay-at-home mom to 7 (yes SEVEN) kids, ranging in age from 6-17. She lived in a nice, new house in a nice neighborhood, some of her kids went to a private school. She hadn’t worked (outside of being a mom) in over 10 years. The family didn’t have savings, didn’t have life insurance.. When her husband unexpectedly died, her entire life changed, drastically. She and her kids had to move into an apartment, and she had to find a way to support herself and seven kids, one who was just about to go to college. She has had to be both mom and dad to her kids, she has had to hold it together so they wouldn’t fall apart. Her strength amazes me. I see her at school functions and think about how lonely she must feel, how afraid of the future she must be. Her entire family lives several hours away, but she didn’t want to move because she didn’t want to upset her kids lives any more than she had to. I just hope she knows she is #doingood

To all my student’s parents- y’all are doing a good job and I don’t judge you when you can’t come to the class party or if you forget to help your kid with their homework. I get it- I work and never get to go to my kid’s parties at school!

I ❤️ This!!!

I’m chronically I’ll, and cannot do nearly as much as I should. My better half picks up my slack and carries his own weight. He is the best dad to our daughter. He takes time to teach her things, play with her, be silly with her. He’s so good with her. I know that once I’m gone one day, she will be cared for amazingly well. He never complains, he simply does everything with love.

I’ve been reading your blog for a while now and I absolutely love it! I actually mentioned it in one of my college essays.

just hitting puberty earlier means your kid will turn into a s**t earlier 🙂 gl w***e