I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Johnson’s Baby.  I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Motherhood is probably one of my biggest accomplishments but it’s undoubtedly my most exhausting job.  I’m constantly being questioned from others about the choices I make as a mother.  Whether or not I swaddled, what formula I used, whether I washed my girl’s clothes before she wore them {I choose to but my family doesn’t understand the need}, and most recently because I don’t let my daughter play on the steps by herself {She’s not physically capable of coming down them in any way without falling so I let her go up them when I’m behind her but that’s it.  We practice going down them but I’m not going to let her play on them alone.  I let her fall and make mistakes but not when it could involve her breaking her neck.  I don’t apologize for that!  Sorry for the rant, can you tell it bothers me when people insert their unwanted comments?}  With all the critical comments from others it’s probably hard to believe that I’m my biggest critic but it’s true.  I worry about her fine motor skills, gross motor skills, social development, potty training!, the variety of food she eats, that I’m training her properly, and the list goes on and on.  My mind is constantly a jumble of things to do and check up on.

Occasionally another mom will look at me and give me an encouraging look.  It’s as if, without words she’s saying, “I’ve been there.  It’s okay, you’ll make it through this.”  I’ve had a few moms I know give me incredible words of encouragement that have lifted my spirits far above what words could describe.

While I’m only a few years into this motherhood journey I want to be like those mother’s who have encouraged me.  I want to make a conscious effort to go out of my way to encourage new mothers. To tell them that they are wonderful and are fabulous mommies.  To tell them they look beautiful on days when they look a little disheveled.

I was excited to recently discover that Johnson’s has a great new promotion, it’s called Johnson’s Baby “Care Cards.”  It’s an easy way to share encouraging messages to moms no matter where they live.  Every mom has questioned whether they’re doing a good job or not {at least, I hope I’m not the only one!} and it’s important to tell them that they’re doing a good job.

You can join Johnson’s Baby “Care Cards” by creating and sending a digital Care Card to send to a special mom in your life on Facebook.  You can send a card to your mom, grandmother, fellow moms, new moms, and well, any mom!  Here’s the icing on the cake, for every card sent, liked, or shared Johnson’s Baby will donate $1 to Save the Chiildren, up to $150,000, to benefit early childhood education.  Isn’t that great?  They’re close to $100,000 now so there is still $50,000 left to raise.  Get sharing!  This is a great way to encourage someone you care about while also supporting those in need.  Through Johnson’s support of Save the Children’s Early Steps to School Success program, they are helping to provide moms with the skills and knowledge to successfully support their child’s growth from pregnancy until school age.

To every single mom who is reading this, please know that you are enough.  You are a great mom!  As Mr. Fred Rogers said, “You are special just the way you are!”  Don’t let other people’s comments ever get you down.  They haven’t been where you are.  Some days are longer than others but on those days try to keep the big picture in mind and remember that one day you’ll look back and wish you could relive these days.

Happy Belated Mother’s Day!!!