How to Manage Mom Envy
May 8, 2008
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I admit it. I have mom envy–sometimes! I wish I could be more calm driving with my 3 kids (like my friend is), I wish I could manage a business and a toddler like SHE does…(you might know the drill). One day my husband came home and said he was at our neighbor’s and the kitchen counters were spotless. Although I was envious, I started to get defensive…(she doesn’t have a business…she doesn’t have 3 kids…) then I decided to stop. I didn’t want to play that game. We all do different things well…and kitchen counters aren’t one of those for me (but I’m committed to work on it, because I do WANT them everyday and not just the day company comes for dinner!) 
Today’s Magic Wand: If you get trapped in the comparison game, watch this short video by Mom Central’s Stacy DeBroff from her Today’s Show segment on Mom Envy. It’s great.
I love your posts on “mom” issues! I watched the little video and really enjoyed it. I think we moms definitely DO value the talent of being organized. When a mother is organized, it shows (either in the cleanliness of her home, her well-thought out meals, her punctuality, or with her put-together-ness in general) and it seems like she just has everything in life in order. I DO envy that talent and strive to develop it, but truly, I don’t think I will ever master it. However, there are other talents and skills we mom’s can value, any one of which makes you a great mom, such as: reading to your child at night, taking them to church on Sundays, volunteering in their classrooms, controlling your temper, loving their daddy and treating him right, teaching them to serve others in need, helping them to learn how to work hard in the yard, etc. Any mom that does any one of those things (or other things) is also a great mother!!! Being organized and having a clean home isn’t the half of it!
Great comments, Fairy Godmother Deborah…thanks so much for taking time to share your thoughts on this topic…I was beginning to wonder if I was the only Start Up Princess that suffers from “mom envy!”
For many of us being organized is the sacrifice we make for being busy with our businesses, etc. but, I’m learning from professional momeorganizer, Sue Olson, new Start Up Princess member that I don’t have to choose…like I have been doing, that I can make small goals each week that make a difference and then maybe just maybe I’ll get on top of my pile of mail, etc.! And if not…well then, I’ll make peace that today I visited with grandparents, took my kids to the park, delivered a plasma tv to a client and checked my email.
Oh gosh Mom-envy! Summer is the worst time of the year for me…either my other Mom friends are on vacation or doing some fabulous event with their children. During the school year I feel that I can wing it - since they are in school all day - summer my kids are in camp, while I work. I am taking it easy in August though, I am going to be Mom of the Year…if even for just a few days :). Great Post!
Thanks for sharing, Jamie! It’s hard to be “Mom of the Year” and “Mom Entrepreneur of the Year” in summer isn’t it?
I think you have the right idea to slow down a bit in August…I’m taking it easy myself right now. Setting less deadlines, creating less expectations for myself…trying to be available to take the kids to the park, etc. more.