Am I A Good Mother?

by Sheila South

A The Kids & Me Contributor

Hey Momma,

Have you ever struggled with the question "Am I a good mother?"

Truly, every mother does some things well and could do other things better.

Maya Angelou is quoted "Do the best you can until you know better; when you know better, do better."

The essence of a good mother is being a good role model for her children who will emulate her and seek to imitate her in every way. A good mother recognizes her own areas of strength which she demonstrates for her children and recognizes her own areas of weakness which she must strive to address for her own sake and that of her children.

I love how Pastor David says in this article, "In our spiritual journey, acknowledging that none of us is perfect can be liberating. We often strive for an ideal that may not be realistic. By embracing our flaws, we create a space for growth and understanding. The Bible reminds us that even the greatest biblical figures had their challenges and failures. Realizing that we are all in this together allows us to be kinder to ourselves and each other as we navigate life’s ups and downs. It’s essential to remember that our shortcomings do not define us; rather, they are part of our human experience. We can take comfort in knowing that God loves us with all our imperfections."

“Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.” – Ecclesiastes 7:20

Have a look at this well-considered list of characteristics of a good mother from this awesome resource:

patient

consistent

forgiving

calm

organized

loving

friendly

fierce

knowledgeable

brave

healthy

good sense of humor

hard working

fun

available

positive

nurturing

welcoming

imperfect

secure

Acknowledge those things you are doing well.

Pick one attribute that you could improve for this week (or this month, or this year). Day-by-day and step-by-step move towards that which you would like to be. Take your children along with you as they observe how you deal with your own areas of weakness and how you grow. Show them how to use the Bible as the standard for what they desire to be. They will learn to strive as well, to reach for a better version of themselves, and to mature into people who demonstrate the desirable qualities they have seen in you. And, therein, you will be a good mother.