Rate your Self As A Mother.

No need for false modesty or fake confidence in this poll. Tell it like it is. I know I think most of you seem to be good parents - but I wonder what you think of yourselves.

Message edited 10/2/2008 8:51:17 PM.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

Going with average here.

I think I have an okay balance of discipline and fun.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

I am very, very average. Some days I think I'm GREAT and others I think I'm the worst.

Some days I will react a certain way and think "good job" to myself. other days, i will react a certain way to something else and beat myself up that I was too harsh, or lost my patience too quickly or something.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

I think I'm pretty fantastic.
But who knows....we'll see how she turns out in about 18 years!

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

Average but I feel like I always try to do better.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

Message edited 10/2/2008 9:09:40 PM.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

I think I'm pretty fantastic. I have my days where I feel like a terrible mom, but for the most part, I really think I'm a good mom.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

It's the one thing in my life that I have followed through on....Im proud of who Ive become because of the mom that I have become.

If you had asked me the same question a few years ago I probably would have put down that I was pretty average. But over the past couple years I have learned where I have made mistakes and I am taking the steps to change those things.

And I think that is what makes me a pretty fantastic mom...

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

Ok, I think I'm a good mom, but I also feel like I have so much to learn.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

I think that I'm a very good mommy, but I'm always open to learning knew things from BTDT moms.

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Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

From my perspective I waiver. Somedays I can pat myself on the back but there are also days where I wish it all came more natural for me. I'm very hard and critical of myself. So right now the most important thing to me is that I think Matthew thinks I'm a good mom from his 14 month old perspective. He loves me, trusts me, is healthy, comes first and is constantly my source or pride, worry, joy, endurance and strength.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

I cringed when I read the subject line.

I think I have many more great days & average days than horrible mother days. However the horrible mother days bring down me down in points. In an honest assessment, I'd say slightly above average to average.

Just read the ratings. I picked "I wish I were a little better at the parenting thing." Not because I think I'm "bad" at it but because I think there are days I need a whole lot more patience.

Message edited 10/2/2008 11:02:49 PM.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

I also cringed from the question, but here goes....

Im above average if parenting is based on how many times you hug & kiss your child each day.

Im below average if parenting is based on my patience level or my teaching ability.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

For the mom's who voted cream of the crop, what makes your feel that way?

I don't mean this in a negative way. I'm just curious. I feel like it's easier for me to think of all the things I need to improve on and I'm just wondering what makes feel like the cream of the crop.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

I voted cream of the crop, I just feel like I am.

I read the question and went with that answer...

I don't claim perfection, but I am happy with my choices and decisions each day.

I give him my best each day.

I know he spends his days happy and feeling secure. One of his best friends knocks on the door 5 days a week...they play so well together. Then a few times each week we hang with his other best friend.

from day 1, I have treated him like his feelings matter.

The breastfeeding an allergy baby. That took its toll on me. But it was a strong turning point for me to decide who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do.

Today he might not know his colors, but I am satisfied that I sat down with him, practiced colors. Took him to a petstore to point out different color birds and fish. Took time out to tell him his tray tonight had green peas, yellow corn, and orange carrots.

I use to be cream of the crop wife, I am not any more. I have to work on that...but mom, I don't know, I just feel it. I have wife guilt days, but never mom guilt...

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

I feel I am a great mom. I still learn everyday but my son is a happy baby. I love him and we have fun every day.

DH told me I was a terrific mom on my birthday and that made me feel great that he thinks that.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

Posted by Janice

I voted cream of the crop, I just feel like I am.

I read the question and went with that answer...

I don't claim perfection, but I am happy with my choices and decisions each day.

I give him my best each day.

I know he spends his days happy and feeling secure. One of his best friends knocks on the door 5 days a week...they play so well together. Then a few times each week we hang with his other best friend.

from day 1, I have treated him like his feelings matter.

The breastfeeding an allergy baby. That took its toll on me. But it was a strong turning point for me to decide who I wanted to be and what I wanted to do.

Today he might not know his colors, but I am satisfied that I sat down with him, practiced colors. Took him to a petstore to point out different color birds and fish. Took time out to tell him his tray tonight had green peas, yellow corn, and orange carrots.

I use to be cream of the crop wife, I am not any more. I have to work on that...but mom, I don't know, I just feel it. I have wife guilt days, but never mom guilt...

Message edited 10/2/2008 11:53:13 PM.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

I think my perspective is a little skewed because I had nightmares for years about being a mother and had all but convinced myself I would be a horrible mother because I lacked any motherly/nurturing instincts.

But, once Alex came oout, I really suprised myself, and I consider motherhood my greatest achievement. So yeah, I won't lie, I think I'm a pretty damn fantastic mother, but then again, the bar in my family was set pretty low.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

I absolutely believe that I am the best mother that I can be, and I really think that every single woman should have that attitude.
I do things with and for my son because I think they are the best thing for him at that time, they may not be, but I do what I think is right and I make no excuses for who I am, the kind of parent I am and well, I don’t think anyone should feel that they have to.

Of course I am not perfect, no one is, but I think my good attitude makes my life easier, it makes me happier and I think it makes my child happier.

I am an awesome Mother.

Re: Rate your Self As A Mother.

I picked pretty fantastic.

I have to say that I'm proud of the mother I am.

I grew up with knowing what its like to have an hysterical, abusive mother, and a passive father who put me o his lowest rung when it came to list of priorities (see why I was so passionate on my other thread?)

I also grew up hearing in one way or another abuse is a pattern that gets passed down generation after generation. I grew up believing I would become the abusive mother I had. I almost considered not having kids to end that pattern, but I love kids so much. And there was an ache in my heart thinking I wouldn't have that chance.

And then even before I got pregnant I realized I had control over everything I do.

And as soon as I set eyes on Cailen, I KNEW there was no way I would do anything but care for that child with all the love I have in my heart.

I rarely get impatient with him. And when I do, I try not to let him know. I yelled at him 3 times in 18 mts. And each time it scared him so terribly, I never want to see that terror again. That terror was a part of my life.

I value his feelings. I get him to communicate to me. I take him places to expand his world. I want him to grow up and be independent, and love me, but not NEED me. I stop what I do and attend to him almost all the time. Everything I do revolves around him. Anything I can do to make his life even better.

I was just thinking last night that I'll never know what it feels like to have a mother who looks at me the way I look at Cailen. I didn't grow up with that look of love in either of my parents' eyes (this is not a wah, poor me. This is a small sad fact of my life.) And that ca drve me crazy - wondering what it would look like, or feel like. But it was worth it if it could make me the best mommy to Cailen. And maybe one day he will have kids and will never even know how bad things can be for a child.

That being said, my results on "Rate yourself as a homemaker" wouldn't even have a category low enough for me to select!