I was thinking about success today. When you become a mom, all success is your kid's success. It's how well they do in school or sports. A stay-at-home mom has no successes of her own, except for maybe finding the perfect sugar-free snack on the very day she is snack mom.
I was trying to think of the moment in my life when I felt most successful. I had a part in a movie once. I was the female lead, but I felt more successful as a stand-in on a show with Dolly Parton and Henry Winkler. I was so happy that I had that job, and soooo star struck!
I won my 7th grade interpretive speech award. Five schools competed, and that somehow felt better than graduating with a B.S. and a 4.0 GPA.
I was a project manager for a Fortune 100 company, and although everybody was singing my praises, I never felt successful. I just felt the pressure to keep outdoing myself.
What are the measures of success as a stay-at-home mom? You make it through the kids dental checkup without any cavities? Nobody got hurt today, or at least no long-term brain damage?
It can't be based on the happiness of your family. I hope! There are always complaints. Someone doesn't like what is for dinner. Another got the wrong happy meal toy. The forcing of the homework. Where is the finish line? Is it when the kids turn 18? Then what? I think I have to go and read Oprah.com now!
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I met Henry Winklwer at the Bookwise convention. He was so gracious! He let us take pictures while he was autographing our books. As per your success. I heard a story once. There was a mother that felt like she had no worth. She had been an artist and had put that away so she could become a mother, but where was her satisfaction in completing a work of art? She became more and more depressed and prayed that she could once more begin to create works of art that people would appreciate. One day, when she was shopping and pushing her baby in the stroller, a woman stopped her and said, "Oh please let me look at your baby. She is so beautiful. You have created such a magnificant work of art here! You should be so proud of yourself"
It is a challenge but they are your prosperity and your legacy! It may seem successless but they are works of art in progress. Keep your chin up and cherish every day. The years will fly past and you will wonder where the time went.
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