I almost allowed the world to sneak its way into my mama heart and make me believe that I’m a bad mom.

I almost told myself that because I’m a mom who doesn’t, because I’m a mom who chooses to not do all the things all the time, that I’m somehow failing my children.

I almost told myself that because most of our days are spent at home, because we don’t go out and experience the world in the same way that other moms I know do, I’m holding my children back from the childhood they deserve.

But it’s plain and simply not true.

Because you don’t have to take your kids to story time at the library.

You don’t have to sign your toddler up for soccer.

You don’t have to strap the baby on and drag the toddler along for a hike.

You don’t have to check out a new park in your city every day of the week.

You don’t have to send your kid to preschool reading chapter books.

You don’t have to craft Pinterest-worthy projects.

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You don’t have to get your kid lessons to play an instrument.

You don’t have to make homemade everything, all the time.

You don’t have to visit museums and play areas and aquariums and zoos.

You don’t have to do it all.

You don’t have to.

And while I may be a mom who doesn’t, a mom who’s not interested in getting caught up in the hype, in believing that my worth as a mom is tied to how much my kids are doing—I’m also a mom who does.

I’m a mom who does grace.

I’m a mom who does digging in the dirt.

I’m a mom who does playing in the sprinklers.

I’m a mom who does sliding down slides and swinging on swings.

I’m a mom who does silly voices during bedtime stories.

I’m a mom who does kissing boo-boos.

I’m a mom who does messy.

I’m a mom who does praising kindness.

I’m a mom who does hide-and-seek.

I’m a mom who does praying with my kids.

I’m a mom who does failure and the life lessons that come with it.

I'm a mom who does racing Hot Wheels.

I’m a mom who does tickles until we’re all in tears.

I’m a mom who does apologizing when I’ve messed up.

I'm a mom who does love.

I’m a mom who does.

So the things I do? I’m going to hold fast to the belief that they’re the things that are worth doing, the things that truly matter.

And I’m going to trust in the fact that I don’t have to be a mom who does all the things to be a mom who does.

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