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So what is the perfect Mother???.......

74 replies

MrsATeam · 23/07/2005 01:49

so is there one???....I do not deem myself to be a perfect mother far from it...but seem to constantly moan, whine and shout at my four children and do not seem to have any control over my brood....is there a perfect mother out there??....if so please come forward

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MrsATeam · 28/07/2005 22:06

mummyhill totally agree with your earlier thread about no such thing as a perfect mother and also agree with you about the person wordsmith was talking about putting them at risk if too much is done for them as they will not be able to think for themselves.

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MrsATeam · 30/07/2005 23:08

thanks all for your messages

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MistressMary · 30/07/2005 23:14

A perfect mum?

In their eyes the answer is mum in law!

spidermama · 30/07/2005 23:20

This thread proves that if there ever were such a thing as a perfect mum she'd be absolutely miserable because all the rest of us would hate her.

MrsATeam · 30/07/2005 23:23

spidermama......LOL.....welldone...totally sums it up.....

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sarahf123 · 04/08/2005 08:11

I think that the way the world is going at the moment a perfect mum is one that teaches her children to have respect for others. Watching the news every night and just what goes on around us there seems to be too little of it out there.

Our children are the ones that can change the world and we are the ones to teach them to do that.

I'll get off my soapbox now...

peachskin · 04/08/2005 09:15

Caligula - the virgin Mary ? But her son went and got himself crucified for talking too much, didn't he ? Any devote Christians out there, don't be offended, just kidding !

There is no such thing as a perfect mother (or father) or indeed child ! It's all "relative".

I try to be a "relatively" good mother to my DS now 14 months, but I am a crap housewife (house always needs a clean, I don't vaccum or dust enough, etc.) so husband and son have to live in messy surroundings. I wish I could afford a cleaner !

They way I justify the messy house is by spending a lot of time talking and playing with him (I mean son, not husband !!) and feeding him home-cooked food (oh, this time that applies to both husband and son) - I reckon a bit of dirt and dust is ok as long as baby is happy playing with mum and is fed properly

hatstand · 04/08/2005 09:36

I'm going to risk being very soppy here. So what if you can't get out of the house without bellowing and loosing your rag? so what if your children fight and bicker while you heat up frozen sausage rolls for tea? so what if you can't find a matching pair of socks in the morning? Every now and then your dd or ds will - entirely voluntarily - slip their hand into yours as you walk along and give it a squeeze. Sometimes I wonder why and what I did to deserve it, but when dd does that I know she unconditionally loves and trusts me and that no-one else would do. So maybe - as far as our kids are concerned - we are perfect.

oliveoil · 04/08/2005 09:41

I think I am a good mum, not perfect, but I will be once I get that tummy tuck.

emkana · 04/08/2005 09:41

[tears in my eyes emoticon]

great post, hatstand, and very timely considering the way I am with my children at the moment...

Ibib · 04/08/2005 09:54

How do you define PERFECT!!!. There are numerous stresses in life. ENJOY our children before you know it they will be little adults (sulking in there rooms, out with their friends doing there own thing! We will all look back and wish for the younger days again. Look at this time with your children as precious and as mothers make it for them as PERFECT as possible because it will shape them into the individuals they grow up to become. That is my philosophy and I am sticking to it. My 2 boys have the best of me every day of their lives so far. Home work etc etc will be there daily its material! JUST ENJOY

runraggedella · 04/08/2005 13:50

It is so good for a new mumsnetter to hear you all say the things that I was coping with alone. I work fulltime and am on my own with a 2 year old. I feel guilty if I lose my temper, don't bath him one night, don't cook 'properly' (which is really important to me) haven't cleaned the house and done the gardening, haven't taken him out all day at the weekend due to house work; oh and the list goes on....what am I supposed to do to be 'right' as opposed to perfect! I'm knackered and a little insane.

HondaDream · 06/08/2005 10:35

My kids think I am their perfect mum and thats good enough for me. They don't notice the crappy things about me or that the house is a constant mess. My philosopy is to fill their lives with happy memories. If that means icing fairy cakes or canoeing down the river, picking flowers or buying barbie plasters to put on their cuts and grazes I am doing it.

whitecloud · 06/08/2005 14:39

No such thing - but you are right, I'm sure - our children love us for putting them first as far as we are able. In no other job are you expected to be perfect all the time, so I guess you just have to forgive yourself when you aren't. After all, the shock for the perfect mother's kids of finding out the world out there isn't perfect might be considerable !! My dd (10) said - I want to see my friends in the holidays, but can we just go out on our own because I like being with you. Sob ! Things like that make you feel good, don't they ?

Seabird · 06/08/2005 14:57

Ahh just found this thread after getting back from taking dd (20m) & ds (4m) to stay with their grandma for 3 days and am now a gibbering wreck! I will be turning on cbeebies next in my madness!! Hatstand & jabberwocky loved your posts in particular.

I've felt far from perfect most of this week, dd has been ill & a bit of a nightmare on the whole but even this week there have been so many moments that have brought tears of happiness to my eyes, simple things like ds giving me his big gummy beam or dd giving me a cuddle and I realise I am their world. Having said that dd was extremely excited about going to grandma's - maybe SHE is the perfect mum giving me 3 days off .

mumtosomeone · 06/08/2005 15:19

you are the perfect mum..oh and so are you. Yes you are too. And you there next to the pot plant!!

mumtosomeone · 06/08/2005 15:20

I meant pot as in potted..you know house plant! not a 'pot' plant!!!

Seabird · 06/08/2005 19:23

LOL mumtosomeone ! (feeling better now after a VRB on the way out to a desperately untrendy club that will be playing music I know )

Beetle73 · 24/08/2005 10:56

Just found this thread. Realise I'm a bit late. It seemed to me in the months after I had my DD that they spend so much time listing all the essential items to take into the delivery room, how to write a birthing plan etc. etc., that they don't get round to telling you about the Guilt and Anxiety. I know I'm the perfect mummy for my gorgeous girl, but it doesn't stop me feeling almost perpetual guilt and anxiety about her wellbeing/happiness/development. Back then it was 'is she too hot/cold/uncomfortable?'. Now it's 'is she bored/played-with enough/miserable that I've gone to work'. And in 20 years time no doubt it will be 'is that lad treating her right/I'd like to go and her give her boss a good kicking myself.' Sorry, I think I made up for lateness with length!

mummyhill · 25/08/2005 09:38

Was sent this recently. Thought it was apt for this thread. On reading this would you of still accepted the job?

POSITION:
Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy

JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often
chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and
organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will
include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some
overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on
rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel
expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,
until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also,
must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero
to 60 mph in 3 seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the
backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face
stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously
sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain
calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have
ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and
mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an
embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a
half million cheap, plastic toys and battery operated devices. Must always
hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete
accountability for the quality of the end
product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work
throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:
Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years,
without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that
those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:
None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually
exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:
Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon
payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will
help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them
whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that
you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement,
no paid holidays and no stock options are offered, this job supplies
limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you
play your cards right.

Forward this on to all the Moms you know, in appreciation for everything
they do on a daily basis, and let them know they are treasured.

Yep I would so maybe i am not such a bad mother after all.

highlander · 25/08/2005 11:23

brilliant mummyhill

happymerryberries · 25/08/2005 11:27

I douun if any exsists , but if they do they would look a bit like this I think

woman on the edge!

runraggedella · 29/08/2005 21:04

Loved mummyhill
I have actually started to chill out and totally agree about the 'creating memories' spot on.

beehive · 29/08/2005 21:20

When my four children venture out into the big wide world, they will find that it is far from perfect.

Trying to be a perfect mother or trying to raise the perfect child is a complete waste of time, and it's totally unfair on your children, you will never succeed (and thank god for that!)

You only ever need to try and be good enough, nothing more.

I hope that when my children look back, they have happy memories of their childood, and felt safe and secure and loved, but i also hope that they will have learnt from my mistakes, because i have never tried to hide them.

having said that, if i ever do come across the perfect moher, i shall give her a good hard slap around her perfect little face (and open the oven door so that her souffle sinks)

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