MORNING TIME

When you go into your baby's room, pick him/her up, look at him/her, and softly say, "Good morning, sweet [baby's name]. Mommy loves you. Daddy loves you. Grandma loves you. (List other people who love your child.) And God loves you soooooooooo, so much!"

 FEEDING TIME

While feeding your baby this month, look at him/her and say, "God made your eyes. God made your nose. God made your smile. God made your ... (continue listing things). And because God made you, He loves you very, very much."

 CUDDLE TIME

Cuddle with your baby this month and pray, "Dear God, Help me remember that You love me, period. Not because of what I do or don't do, but simply because You made me. I'm Yours. And that makes me very special. I want to live believing in Your love for me so [baby's name] will know how much You love him/her and that nothing will ever change that. In Jesus' name, amen."

 BATH TIME

As you bathe your baby, look him/her in the eye, smile, and repeat this rhyme. "One, two, God loves you!"

“Thank you for making this dinner! But I think I like Dad’s spaghetti better.” It was so close to being a compliment, but I’ll take it. My five-year-old was right. I put forth a good effort, but his dad is the better cook. Mothering can feel like this at times. Like you are just close enough to getting it, only you just didn’t make the cut. You want to be the best. But these days you’ll just settle for someone noticing your effort. “Thanks for trying, but . . .”

Mother’s Day can feel like the day to celebrate the golden standard of mothering, leaving you to hope others don’t get close enough to see how insecure parenting really makes you feel. I get it. But I’m starting to think on days like Mother’s Day, or any day we feel inadequate, the last thing we should be doing is worrying over everything we’re not . . .

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