I’m Just a Mom

 

 

Eighteen years ago, I became a mom.
From that day on I’ve done my best to be just a mom.

Along the way I’ve tried and failed, did and didn’t, walked and ran, and stumbled more times than I can count.
I’ve made hard decisions I never thought I’d have to make.
I’ve tried one way and then another, tried this and that, cried and laughed, gave up and started over. 

I’ve gone to work.
I’ve stayed home.
I’ve given birth traditionally.
I’ve give birth through C-section.
I’ve breastfed.
I’ve bottle fed.
I’ve worn my babies, carried my babies, and strolled my babies.
I’ve enrolled them in sports.
I’ve un-enrolled them in sports.
I’ve given them antibiotics.
I’ve rubbed essential oils on their feet.
I’ve cussed in front of them.
I’ve yelled at them for cussing.
I’ve helped with homework.
I’ve ignored their schoolwork.
I’ve joined the PTA.
I’ve avoided the PTA.
I’ve made homemade meals.
I’ve fed them Poptarts for dinner.

Over the years I’ve failed, nailed it, screwed it all up, succeeded beyond their expectations, crushed their hearts, built them up, hurt them, healed them, been exceptional, and been totally average.

But I’m just a mom.

I’m not a #boymom or #girlmom.
I’m not a “breast is best” or straight to formula.
I’m not a cloth mom or a disposable mom.
I’m not a plant-based mom or a keto mom.
I’m not a homemade dinner mom or a frozen meal mom.
I’m not a home school mom or a public school mom.
I’m not a singleton mom or a triplet mom.

I’m just a mom, doing my best to be just a mom.
A mom who can’t compete.
A mom who won’t compete.
A mom who falls.
A mom who rises.
A mom who fails.
A mom who succeeds.

Eighteen years ago, I became a mom.
From that day on I decided to be just a mom, the best one I could be.
Because the pressure to be anything else would crush me along the way.
Because the weight to try to get it all right is too heavy to carry.
Because comparing myself to other moms is as intimidating as changing clothes in middle school gym class—we just weren’t created the same way.

So I decided to be just a mom, the best mom I can be.

Candice
Candice Curry is a born and raised San Antonio mother of 6. She and her husband escape their kids by taking backroad drives in the Texas hill country seeking out the best whiskey and coolest antiques. When she grows up she wants to own an ice cream truck and travel around Texas selling ice cream and french fries with her family.