I wish I could say I’m the perfect mother. But…I’m not. Not even close. Day after day I mess up in a million ways, and I'm still the right mom for the job.
Hey there! I’m Mikala—a family doctor, wife, mother of 5, well-being advocate, and author of the books Ordinary on Purpose and Everything I Wish I Could Tell You About Midlife. Each month my writing reaches millions of women, but I am thrilled to be connecting with YOU. I’m truly grateful to have you here!
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I wish I could say I’m the perfect mother. But…I’m not. Not even close. Day after day I mess up in a million ways, and I'm still the right mom for the job.
Our main job as parents is to help our children navigate life. REAL LIFE. And that means talking to them about the hard stuff.
First, I’d recommend a deep breath. And...maybe another. Then simply repeat a phrase like this one, “Oh, I know honey. Ugh. There’s always something to do, right? I sure do appreciate your help around here.”
Somewhere along the way…we stopped trying to change one another. We stopped keeping track and stopped keeping score and decided to be on the same team.
It might look a little different now, but your boy will always need you in so many ways!
It’s easy to overstuff—our dryers and our lives. And that’s what causes burnout!
And showing up to this mess and noise through exhaustion (and sometimes tears) is part of raising a beautiful family!!
Because high school sports (and so many parts of life, in general) are lots of fun until they’re NOT. But even when they’re not, we’ll be there.
I may occasionally wish for a moment or two that I could step into those seemingly picture-perfect lives that surround me. But the truth is, I love this life. THIS one.
Somehow, when I stopped striving and pretending, a beautiful life of connection and love and faith had room to emerge. And now I know.: “Perfect” is pretend.
Who else would know to look for a little thumbs up from the soccer field?? After all, he didn’t score. But his foot touched the ball and he’d like to celebrate all the same. So, I do!!
Life only gives us a few. But when we find them??? We just know...
When we unwrapped that big box, my daughter squealed!! “Momma, did you know they would be this PRETTY???” Then I turned my beloved Barbies over in my hands a few times and ran my finger down the braids tied with my old hair ties as I told my little girl their names. It felt like a full circle moment…
My book. It’s the ONE thing I’ve ever done because I want to. Not because I need to or someone asked me to or I’m supposed to. Writing just fills my heart!
You know, I don’t know if he’ll EVER get around to changing the toilet paper roll…but I’m not too worried, really. I’m proud of the compassionate young man he is becoming
Because all this hustle and bustle? And all this stuff to DO? It means I’m really living this good, hard, ordinary life.
And I learned everything I know about kindness from being unkind.
Your growing family of suddenly much bigger kids will sit. And eat. And seemingly delight in one another. And you’re going to LOVE it so much!