The monster is lurking around every corner, it’s face is revealed all over social media. It is ever present in conversations with other mothers. It leaves you feeling guilty that you can’t do all the things. It leaves a trail of negative thoughts. The monster has a name: Insecurity.
How do we as mothers give up feelings of being less than, not enough, and insecure when this monster is knocking on our minds’ door regularly? We must find the strength to never surrender. Mothers should fight through these feelings and do battle with the insecurity monster daily.
Here are a few tips to tame the insecurity monster:
Cut down on your must-do list.
Make it into your would-be-nice-to-do list. Recognize that you have limitations. You do not have the exact threshold as another mother. If you don’t cut your children’s sandwiches into animal shapes daily, it’s okay. It’s not a must. Have no time to be in the PTA? Fine. Cut down on some activities if they are activating the insecurity monster.
Surround yourself with positivity.
Hang out with other women who are your village. Villages do not cut each other down, compare, or only talk about themselves. They uphold, support, and encourage. Find women who will encourage you when you’re having a hard day being a mom. These are the friends who will send you a hilarious GIF or a verse of encouragement.
Put down the phone.
Nothing makes me feel more insecure faster than seeing another mom on social media who in my mind has it all together. Their kid’s socks match. Their own hair is perfectly braided. They have gone to the gym and it’s not even 6 a.m. Their children watch movies together without trying to pole vault over the couch. They can bake. They don’t believe in coffee because they got eight hours of sleep. They do all the things. They are unicorns. Sadly, unicorns don’t exist. What you see through the lens of your phone is not reality. Social media is the highlight reel.