It’s Okay Mom

April 30, 2014

Written by Marykate OMalley, mother of three wonderful children, Gladwyne PA

I love Todd Parr books. We have almost every one. I especially love to read these at night and send my children to bed with thoughts that are loving, and accepting, and gentle. Todd Parr let’s us know – it’s okay. It’s all okay. And although my passion is children’s book I decided that Moms need to hear this message more than anyone. And so here is my version of, “It’s Okay Mom”.

“It’s Okay Mom”

It’s okay to say you are busy when you are busy taking a bubble bath and getting into bed at 8:00 p.m., remote in hand.

It’s okay to wear your red velour bathrobe around the house every day for months when you had the winter that never, ever, ever, ever, ever wants to end.

It’s okay if it double as a jacket to grab something from the car, collect a child at a friends, to take out the trash. (If it isn’t okay – a blanket apology to my friends and neighbors).

It’s okay to put on your yoga clothes instead of pajamas because you have an early morning class and can simply wake and go. (I am not saying I do this. I am saying if you do – it’s okay).

It’s okay to say no to demands on your time and okay to say yes to you. It ‘s okay to take time for yourself, in fact it is vital.

It’s okay to pick up the store made cupcakes instead of bringing your freshly baked batch transported in a stylin cupcake carrier. Honestly, who cares. Certainly not the children. (I have gotten so much better about this).

It’s okay to not volunteer for every event.

It’s okay if your children have toast for breakfast.

It’s okay to have a bad day.

It’s okay to say you are tired.

It’s okay to not have all the answers.

It’s okay to ask for help.

It’s okay to go to bed with dishes in the sink.

It’s okay to do your best, every day, and leave it at that.

It’s okay to know that no matter what you do, and how hard you try, and how much you give – things don’t always work out the way you expect or want. And it’s okay to let it go and know that life has a plan for you and a net waiting if you will only jump.

Moms, it’s okay.