Get Real!

Here's an e-mail I received from MOPS International - For those of you who don't know, MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers. MOPS is a group that has local chapters all over the world that exists to meet the needs of Moms of young children! If you have never heard of MOPS or have, but never attended a local meeting - Check out their website at www.mops.org and also check out the following story for a little bit of encouragement this summer!

A Mom Moment
"Get Real!" ~ By Amy Powers, Area Coordinator

One conclusion I have come to in my mothering life is that I don't always have to be a "happy" mom. It's okay to have bad days. My children will not be permanently scarred if I'm not always all-smiles. I can say no too. Most mothers of preschoolers have learned to say no to their children, but we also need to learn to sometimes say no to volunteer opportunities, preschool projects, or committees that come our way. Moms, especially, need a break and that's okay. My goal in life is not to be "Super Mom." Sometimes I need help. My son, Justin, helps by cleaning baseboards, letting the dogs outside, and keeping his space neat. My little three-year-old, Skylar, keeps her dolls neat and her face clean.

Honesty with ourselves liberates us to be real. Being real is discovering who you are and being who you are; it's knowing what matters most in mothering, determining what is most important and right, and recognizing the difference between appropriate should's and unsuitable should's.
"Being real is not ... giving up on growing and changing as a person, being selfish and self-centered, thinking your way is the right and only way and being rude or rotten or inconsiderate of others feelings of needs. Being real is risky. It is hard work. It is a life-long process." Elisa Morgan and Carol Kuykendall, Real Moms (Zondervan)

As this summer begins and outside activities slow down for a few months, I encourage you to take a few mommy time-outs and get real!

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Prayer From a Mother's Heart
Dear God, help me be just who you created me to be. Help me to be real with not only those around me but also with myself and with you.