[Moms] You Have Permission To...

You have permission to 

Shower

Lock the door 

Stand with the water dripping down your tired, finger stained body

And wash the yesterday [or two yesterdays] off

You have permission to laugh

Laugh
At yourself, because you're going to take life to seriously if you don't

Laugh
At the tantrum throwing toddler gripping your ankles, 

At the boundary testing, too-cool elementary kid you just sent to the corner
And at the teenager rolling her eyes
Laugh inside and loudly out
Laugh at the day to come because you're prepared,
Or maybe your not - that can make for some laughable moments too

You have permission to
Rest
Let your eyes close when they grow heavy
Sit
Be still, even when they're not
Because coffee is good, but it doesn't fix tired
And even God rested  

You have permission to 

Eat cookies

I mean no-bakes are practically a bowl of oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies contain dark chocolate

I hear oatmeal and dark chocolate are good for your heart

You have permission to 

Not shower

Roll out of bed in those yoga pants

Change your shirt, or don't

Throw your hair in a messy bun and breathe in the day
Because the day's going to happen whether you're clean or not

You have permission to cry

Release the walled up emotion in a snotty ugly cry

Or sit softly with shoulders slumped as salt stains your cheek

Cry

While watching them succeed 

When they walk away

Cry, because you're unsure

For no good reason at all

Because you're filled with joy

Or because the days are long

You have permission to

Not know

Kids don't come with a manual, I've checked - more than once
Sometimes you will say yes, and wonder if you should have said no
Sometimes you will say no, and question if yes would have been okay
Sometimes they'll ask questions you don't have an answer for and you'll make up an answer
You don't have to know
And don't be afraid to admit it - they'll love you for learning with them

You have permission to
Drink coffee
You only get the breaks you take as a Mom - take them
Sit with a friend, decompress, vent, laugh, smile, be filled up
Let the kids run around like crazy and fill up on fruit snacks while you refuel
And if you hate coffee - you have permission to drink your soda or tea or caffeeine of choice without sharing sips

You have permission to
Doubt
Are you messing them up? (My personal favorite)
Do they know how much you love them?
Should it be this hard?
Doubt, Just don't let it paralyze you
They're resilient
Oh and, Decisions and discipline covered with love don't deserve being doubted

You have permission to
Be like your Mom
You turned out okay -- right?
Don't swallow her words that come out of your mouth
Unless they should be swallowed
You also have permission to
Not be like your Mom
Your kids aren't you, and you're not her

You have permission to 

Be yourself

You are the BEST you there is

And the best Mom for the ones you have

Don't compare

Because comparison is the thief joy [this applies to ALL of life]

And God didn't make you to be that Mom - He made you to be their Mom

Linking up today with Meredith Bernard

to encourage women about women issues #woman2woman Wednesday

@forhisgloryblog
And With the lovely Holley Gerth at Coffee For Your Heart