Girl, Wash Your FaceExemplo

     There’s also no one way to be a family. . . . You need to care, truly care that you are raising your babies to grow up to be good people. You need to do the work today to ensure that it happens. On some days you will knock it out of the ballpark, and on other days you will scream the house down, wondering who replaced your children with changelings who have horrible manners and no respect.
 

    Good news! Tomorrow is a new day. Tomorrow you’ll count to ten before you lose your temper, and maybe they’ll eat every bite of the dinner you made and say something so hilarious you’ll think, Man, people without kids are totally missing out! You will experience every kind of day as a mama, and you will need to accept the grab bag of good, bad, ugly, awesome, magical, and miserable days as a parent. You don’t have to get it right all the time. You don’t have to do things like anybody else’s mom.
 

    You only have to care.
 

    Not only about them, but also about yourself. You cannot properly take care of your children or teach them how to be whole and happy people if you are   miserable and harsh with yourself. That means doing the absolute best with them that you can. That means that calling in reinforcements in the form of   friends, your spouse, your mama, or the playland at your local gym when you’re fraying at the edges and need a break. That means giving yourself time alone and away from the precious cherubs who are driving you crazy. Get a manicure, go for a run, call up your college roommate for dinner. Better yet, plan a whole weekend if you can. Imagine two full days without once wiping anyone’s nose. Imagine being called by your actual first name! Can you imagine sleeping in? Oh my gosh, girl, you are going to sleep so hard. . .   .
 

    Then imagine coming home feeling uplifted and renewed, feeling better able to manage the squeals and screams and requests to have the crust cut off without wanting to lock yourself in the closet. Imagine living your motherhood out from now until forever, without guilt. Imagine that caring for your children and yourself simultaneously without constantly questioning every decision you make. It’s possible.
 

    It’s also a choice.