8 Things You Can (And Should) Learn From A Hot Mess Mom
bySabrina Joy Stevens
After spending the earliest part of my life as a classic Type-A overachiever, I've discovered that my constant pursuit of unrealistic goals was killing my mental health, and threatening to take my physical health right with it. Yet even now that I theoretically know better, I still occasionally (OK, frequently) find myself slipping into those old "be the best!" patterns, especially when it comes to motherhood. When I think of the other "types" of moms we all know, I definitely think there are lots of things you can learn from a hot mess mom, if you can be humble enough to try.
In a high-stakes endeavor like motherhood, where so much of our effort may take years to pay off, it can be really tempting to look for external signs that we're doing things right. Unfortunately, that can often take the form of engaging in an invisible, unspoken competition with other moms, or with our mental image of the "perfect mom." Yet while a lot of mom "types" may engage in that competition, the Hot Mess Mom opts out. She's content to leave everyone else to their hoop-jumping and blue ribbon-grabbing; while they're out trying to cram in one more prestigious after-school activity, she'll be cuddling her kids on the couch in her best tattered leggings and a content smile. Though she might not be doing it on purpose, she inherently understands that "good enough" is all her kids need in order to thrive. We could all stand to internalize a little of that wisdom.
Besides, we're all a hot mess sometimes, and it's OK. We learn more from our mistakes than from the things we get right the first time. As long as we are honest and upfront with ourselves and our kids, and admit it when we make a mistake, chances are we will all survive and be better off for it. Hot mess moms are great friends to have, because they teach us that it's possible to fall far short of the picture perfect ideal mom, and still be good moms (and worthwhile people more generally). Hot mess moms also help us remember that...