The Kind of Mom I Am

Someone asked me the other day, "So, what kind of mom are you?"
I wasn't exactly sure how to respond.
What kind of mom am I?
How does one really define themselves as a mom?
So, I thought about it and thought about it and thought about it some more.

I am the kind of mom who lets her six year old wear a mohawk to school for a week.  Not because he's into heavy metal rock, but just because he thinks it's fun.

I am the type of mom who allows her eight year old to sleep in the bathtub because it's not worth the fight, and because I'm pretty sure she'll learn her lesson when her body is aching the next morning.



I am the type of mom who:
• lets the four year old (or any age, really) run around naked all day.
• lets the kids jump off of furniture.
• lets the kids dance on top of tables.
• hangs educational paraphernalia all over the living room walls because should the moment arise to discuss negative numbers, infinity, German color words, the periodic table, world locations, state capitals, how to spell certain words, I want to be prepared, and I want the children to be able to find the information any time they want.
• allows the kids experiences of falling down and getting hurt or failing and subsequently learning from that.
• allows the children to draw and color to their hearts content,
• and who also allows them to hang their artwork anywhere they so desire.
• sings (really badly) to them every night, even when sick or exhausted or both.
• plays music really loud and lets it all hang out by dancing around the living room with (or without) the kids.
• is not afraid to say, "I'm sorry, I was wrong," when it's deserved or even just when it's needed.
• gives kisses openly and freely.
• hugs and snuggles with such wholeheartedness that the kids may have a tough time breathing.
• who loves them completely, unconditionally, to infinity and beyond.

That's not to say, I'm always a good mom.
Sometimes I:
• yell too much.
• slam a door or a cabinet or push a chair too hard into the table when frustrated or angry.
• lose my cool in a public place.
• don't keep a tidy house even when I know an uncluttered house leads to an uncluttered mind.
• push the math thing a little too hard.
• spend too much time on the computer.
• don't read to them everyday.
• am selfish and won't let the kids listen to the music of their choice.
• don't play with the kids as often as they (or I) would like.
• am kind of a control freak -- especially when it comes to baking or sewing.

So, there you go.
That's me with all my blatant imperfections.
And even with all those imperfections, I guarantee my kids know every single day how much I love them and how absolutely honored I am to be allowed to be their mom.

December 2006