Bad Mom?

If you're a mom, then being a really good mom is most likely very important to you.

Have you ever done anything that made you feel like you are not a good mom?

I was watching a bit of Oprah today. She was interviewing a mom that had accidentally killed her baby daughter. This mom struggles a year later with forgiving herself. She said that her whole community judged her.

The Oprah Show had set up an anonymous call-in line for moms who are feeling overwhelmed. I listened to moms relaying their feelings of guilt as they recalled innocent mistakes that they had made.

Sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves to be perfect. Perfect mothers, wives, homemakers, employees, Christians, daughters, etc.

I've made lots of mistakes. I know I'm not perfect.

Our first-born was one year old. Mark was away for the weekend. I had taken my daughter to the mall. I was putting her in her car seat, on the passenger side of the car. I put the keys in the ignition and closed the car door. My plan was to walk around the car, get in the driver's door and leave the parking lot. When I closed the passenger door, I inadvertently hit the automatic lock. I locked my daughter and the keys in the car. My husband, with the spare set of keys, was out of town.

I was able to call my dad and the police, who both came to my rescue along with a tow truck driver. My car was unlocked and my daughter was fine without a single tear shed. A spare set of keys and a cell phone would have been so nice - but not part of my situation. No cell phones back then.

I'm thankful that my mishaps have not resulted in anything horrible. I can share them with my children and laugh at myself now. So important to remember, that we're not perfect and not to judge ourselves or others.