10 Truths Every Mom Needs to Hear

Motherhood is a tricky business. Depending on where you look there is no wrong way to do it and also there are A LOT of wrong ways to do it. Figuring out the truth in the over abundance of advice out there can be overwhelming to say the least. I recently started a series with a few of my favorite moms over on Instagram called "Mommy Tip Mondays" because we wanted to share the things that we've learned over the years but also cultivate a community by letting you guys know that we don't have it all figured out either. No one does.

But I know that not everyone is on Instagram and so I wanted to compile some of my most important "tips" in a blog post. These are what I consider universal mom truths, meaning that regardless of what type of mom you are, and what parenting choices you've made, these apply to you. They are things that I think we all know deep down but maybe we need a reminder every once in a while. I'd love for you to bookmark or pin this post and pull it up if you ever need encouragement!

So here are 10 truths that I believe every mom needs to hear:

1. Everyone will tell you that you can’t force friendships. But here’s the thing, motherhood is a lonely business without mom friends and moms are busy AF. We are all wrapped up in keeping tiny humans alive that we forget to look up and reach out. So my advice to you is to be the persistent one that bugs people until they hang out with you. Set play dates, then reschedule because something came up, then reschedule again because one of the kids got sick. NEVER STOP RESCHEDULING!!! Even if it feels like you’re always the one trying to make plans, keep going. Because it’s absolutely not personal and you’re not annoying. And because you absolutely can force friendships and you should. Moms need each other and if someone didn’t force it we’d all be trapped in our homes forever.

2. Do what you need to do to make your life easier! I will 100% leave Ella in her pajamas on purpose because A: less laundry for me, and B: It makes naptime 10 times easier. Do we get some weird looks in the coffee shop... and the grocery store? #yep but guess who doesn't have to struggle getting shoes and a coat off of a sleeping toddler while transferring her from the car to her bed? #winning

3. CHILL OUT. Your kid is going to eat stuff they’re not supposed to, destroy things that were expensive, watch too much television, and fall down a lot. We can’t control everything but we can control our reactions! So go ahead, sip your latte nonchalantly while your child throws a fit in Target. We ain’t judgin’ I promise. But always cut their grapes in half, because choking is real.

4. Sometimes motherhood can feel like the beep test. Remember in middle school, where you would run back and forth every time the speaker beeped and the rule was keep running until you die? Just keep putting one metaphorical foot in front of the other. The sleep regression will end eventually, they’ll get over the biting phase, whatever you’re going through that feels like it won’t ever end, will eventually end. Just keep going. And buy yourself something pretty because you earned it mama.

5. Always trust your mom gut. We have a miraculous ability to sense danger when it comes to our children. You’re not crazy or overprotective, God gave you that sixth sense for a reason. I’m not saying to wrap your kids in bubble wrap or deprive them of the joy of taking risk. Just when that feeling comes that something isn’t quite right, listen. You’ll be glad you did.

6. Life is too short to miss EVERYTHING because you need to keep a routine but I am also very aware of how important keeping a routine is to our sanity. I guess my point is, routines are awesome and kids thrive on consistency, but don’t lose sight of everything else in the midst of the day to day, because the times that you throw the routine out the window are going to be some of your favorite memories.

7. Get out of the house! This is important for two reasons:

-They can’t make a mess if they ain’t home.

-It’s so good for your mental health, and relationship health to spend time off the couch, away from the phones and simply enjoy each other’s company.

Some of our favorite budget friendly outings are to grab a Starbucks drive through and take Ella to the park or go for a weekend breakfast at Chic Fil A. We get a cheap date and Ella gets to play herself tired. I know it doesn’t seem like much but just making that effort to spend time together even when we don’t have a huge budget, a ton of time, or a babysitter helps us connect and remember why we still like each other!

8. Stop letting other people’s opinions hold so much power over you. Whether it’s breastfeeding or formula, cosleeping or sleep training, vaccinations or no vaccinations, or whatever else the world tells moms they should judge each other about, trust that you know what you’re doing and have confidence in your choices. No one cares more about your children than you do. And while we’re at it, if you find yourself having a negative opinion about another mom, maybe keep it to yourself, the world doesn’t need any more negativity than it already has.

9. People still eat fast food, even if they don’t talk about it. I know I preach living a clean(ish) life but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate French fries on occasion. It’s called balance babes. But seriously, I know that society can make you feel like you need to have it together 100% of the time and that your children should only snack on dandelions and goats milk yogurt but let’s be real, McDonald’s feeds 62 million people a day. Don’t be so hard on yourself if you’re one of them.

10. When it comes to parenting you will come across a lot of things that are out of your control. We can’t control what happens every second of every day and to be honest that scares the crap out of me. I love my child so much that I would literally lay down my life for her and yet I am constantly reminded that I can’t protect her 100% of the time - taking it even further, I’m required to take a step back and let her fall, make mistakes, even get hurt so that she can learn and grow. Ugh hard stuff. So here is my advice for you. Take full advantage of the things you CAN control. For me, educating myself about the ingredients that are in our food and personal care products and making conscious efforts to choose safer options for me and my family has given me so much peace of mind. I had no idea the dangerous chemicals that lurked in my own home. For example: Did you know that one full body application of chemical sunscreen has the same effect on your body as one daily hormone replacement therapy treatment? This is because they are packed full of hormone disruptors like oxybenzone and octinoxate (both of which have recently been banned in Hawaii due to the fact that they’re killing coral reefs). So I made a simple switch to a safer sunscreen (and body wash, skin care, shampoo, conditioner, makeup ext.) because I CAN protect her from some things. - If you'd like more info about safer switches you can make, leave a comment below or feel free to reach out! I'd love to share what I've learned! Or you can check out THIS POST.

I hope that you found some encouragement in these words. My hearts desire is that you read these and realize that you're actually doing an amazing job! If you loved this post I hope that you'll share it with other moms. I would love for everyone to read these and know that they aren't alone in their struggles. That we all suffer from insecurities and not knowing what to do all the time! Until next time friends! <3