Being an average mother

I already sense that many of you are taken aback by this title. Some of you may even want to reassure me that I am more than an average mother.  Really you don't need to, I am fine with this title, really I am. In fact I strive to be average!

So what do I mean when I say that I am an average mother? Rest assured, I love my children deeply and passionately. There is very little I wouldn't do for them. I am sure you have noticed I have not written that there is nothing that I wouldn't do for them.

However I do have a life for me and I do crave time for me, me and my husband, me and my friends. Therefore there are limits for what I would do for my children and there are times when other things come first.

I love having a job that I enjoy, I love participating in sport and I fundamentally care that I am balanced. In doing all of the above, I believe I am also caring for my children. I may not be present in these moments, but I am investing. For my children I want to be a role model. I want to be a happy working mum. A mum who cares about her own health and a mum who consciously makes choices about how to spend her time. I want to not begrudge them anything at any point. I don't want any regrets on the choices we have all made. Not now, not ever.

That said when I am there, I talk to them, I listen to them, I read to them, I get on the floor and do jigsaws with them. I also make them laugh and do silly things. I see when they are hurting and I try to talk them through the tough stuff.

Am I always there?  No.
Do I put myself first, sometimes.
Do I give them what I can, absolutely, always.

My little human beings know that I love them deeply, desperately and insanely. But I also want them to know that they are only part of who I am..

A hugely masssively largely enormously importantly part however!!!