I'm your average mom.

I'm not winning any awards over here.

My house will never win a "beautiful lawn" award, and my cooking will never be nominated for anything...ever...except worst tasting maybe.

I am not a "Pinterest mom," and my lunches are always more of a hodgepodge of what we have available as opposed to a planned-out, separated by color and texture, met every required food group, kind of meal.

I don't send in cute little notes with my kid's dishes, and I don't pack that needs-a-good-cleaning lunchbox with a purpose to please.

My kids' clothes are always wrinkled or stained, and they rarely actually do their hair.

If they have brushed and flossed their teeth in the morning, it is only by the grace of God.

I may get them to school on time, but it's only because I yell like flippin' drill sergeant to ensure they get out the door in a timely fashion.

I feed them breakfast, of course ('cause I'm not a negligent monster), but it typically includes a warmed-up version of something previously frozen like turkey sausage, waffles, or a definitely processed bagel.

My youngest had a Starbucks cake pop this morning.

Admittedly not my finest hour, but most definitely not my worst.

Most days, I'll send them off to school with their homework done, but whether or not they had enough time to "wind down" the day before, that's questionable.

Though some days all they do is unwind...in front of the tv or on their Amazon fires...for hours while I tend to other (so says me) more pressing things.

I keep a messy house and an even trashier car.

There are always dishes in my sink, clothes on the eat-in, and a full washer and dryer.

I'm your average mom.

In no version of this reality that I'm living, am I hitting it out of the park.

But, get this -- I could pretend that I am.

And, so could you.

You might look at me and think that I am.

But, you'd be wrong.

It would be easy for me or any of us to pitch ourselves as "perfect" moms.

We could lie out of our biscuits and tell each other how natural motherhood feels for us and how, despite its challenges, we fudgin' thrive under pressure and always rise to the occasion.

We could avow that any so-called problem others have with our kids or how we parent them has to do with their issues and not ours.

We could aggressively defend the fact that we are doing the best and plead that such be enough.

But, enough for who?

For a society that commands that mothers be unerring, faultless, and exemplary at all times?

Why?

Why do we need to, when

what we could do instead,

what we SHOULD DO,

what so many of us ARE doing,

is owning the sh*tshow that we are; confidently (faked or not) putting one foot in front of the other, day

after day,

after day,

and giving to that day,

it's moments,

our spouse,

and our kids

whatever presence, time, and quality feels sufficient for us on that day.

And then, admitting it.

Talking about it.

Empathizing with one another about it.

Supporting one another one embarrassingly honest disclosure at a time.

Expecting every mother on this whole freakin' planet to be getting it right all of the time, that's just ridiculous.

What's even more absurd is not understanding and believing that not getting it right every moment is actually more beneficial to our children.

Children who are raised by perfect parents, grow up never being able to make mistakes and turn into adults who struggle with inevitable failure.

Children who are raised by average, imperfect, but loving parents, grow up having the courage to try, misstep, and try again. They don't fear failure, because their parents don't. And they are brave enough to anticipate failure, knowing that its presence may be on the horizon, and still trek on because their mistake-making parent is right behind them,

building them up,

supporting them,

and loving them unconditionally regardless of their missteps and regardless of any outcome.

I'm your average mom.

I'm not winning any awards over here.

But I love my kids well,

in my own way.

And, if its enough for them, my goodness, it should surely be enough for society.

Keep at it, mama, because in no version of your current reality, are you not the best fudgin' mother for your kid(s).