Work in Progress: Mom Edition

100! Wowza! This, my friends, is my 100th post! To say that I am humbled by the support of my readers over the past 5 months, is truly an understatement. I hope you continue to ride with me on this journey, celebrating the best "little" things in life........fashion, food, entertainment, etc.

My other role (arguably, my most important) worth celebrating and discussing is that of a mother.

To continue our discussion on being a "work in progress"...... (introduction to the series, read here. first in the series, read here.)

As a mom, I have given my children every reason to believe that I know all of the answers. And, why wouldn't they accept that? I am their care-taker. Provider. Their protector. Tutor. Chef. Therapist...... To suggest that as a mom, I am NOT a work in progress, would innately imply that I have it all figured out. That I know all of the answers to life's challenges. That couldn't be further from the truth.
Here are my burning questions: Where does the role of mother begin? Where does it end? When do we knowingly let them fail or fall? And what advice do we give when they get up? When is doing too much for your children; giving too much advice, making too many excuses on behalf of your children, etc, simply put....too much?

Here is what I do know: Life is about stages. In each stage, we learn more. As a self-confessed "work in progress," I am always learning. In fact, I have openly invited the universe to teach me all that it can. That said, experiences have proven to be my greatest teacher. I have come to understand, that with my children (ages 9 and 6) "teaching" does not equate to "doing." Sure, I want my kids to succeed. Watching them fail is heartbreaking. But watching them soar because I have always saved and protected them from failure, is perhaps more upsetting.

There is comfort in knowing that I am not alone with these maternal struggles. Being a "work in progress" means actively accepting counsel from those who fall into the same category. Learning from others mishaps and successes. Just like me, they are learning (and striving to be better) as they go. And, I have come to realize that, so will our children.

Just like my open invitation to the universe (that I suggested above), I invite all of my readers to share their thoughts on motherhood. What are a mother's boundaries? What and when is too much?

Image//Mother and Child