I’m the mum the internet hates

This article originally appeared on Memoirs of a Working Mom and has been republished here with permission. By Shannon Bennett.

I don’t know when it happened, but at some point in life I became that mum. I don’t mean the perfect Instagram mum whose kids are always dressed and smiling perfectly. Or the mum with perfect hair, make-up, and clothes who can seemingly do-it-all, or even the Pinterest mum (Why is the Pinterest mum so talented anyway?).

Despite my highly curated social media feed, I’m not that mum at all. Rather, I’m the mum that the internet sanctimummies talk about. I’m the one who I read about while saying to myself that I’ll never be that way.

I’m the mum the internet hates.

I’m that mum.

I’m the mum who can’t get out of bed in the morning, the one who hits snooze way too many times and ends up late every single day.

(As a result) I’m the mum who rushes her kid to get ready faster every day because they’re already late and never had a chance.

I’m the mum who has zero patience for anything or anyone before 9:00 am, especially tiny humans.

I’m the mum who has sent her kid to school with an Eggo waffle and a squeezable fruit pouch for breakfast because her own lateness made her kid miss school breakfast again.

I’m the mum who loses her patience and yells.

I’m the mum who works too much and sometimes doesn’t see her kids at all on any given weekday.

I’m the mum who spends too much time on her phone.

I’m the mum who prefers to watch her kids play rather than play with them.

I’m the mum who forgets to brush her 2-year-old’s teeth.

I’m the mum who believes in disciplining her children rather than “refocusing” them.

I’m the mum who doesn’t even know how to spell DIY, much less attempt any kid-craft from Pinterest.

I’m the mum who spends her time cleaning up messes instead of helping her kids make them.

(Speaking of which) I’m the mum whose house is clean/organized pretty much all the time.

I’m the mum who folds and puts away laundry on the same day. (I’m the mum who can fold a fitted sheet.)

I’m the mum who hasn’t cooked in years and has forgotten how.

I’m the mum who likes the idea of and all-organic diet but takes her kids to McDonald’s and KFC for dinner when Daddy isn’t home.

I’m the mum who buys Goldfish instead of Cheddar Bunnies.

I’m the mum who lets her kids watch TV all day if they want to.

I’m the mum who distracts her kids with YouTube videos while shovelling food in their mouths as the only way to get them to eat.

I’m the mum who forgets to text people back.

I’m the mum who is distracted.

I’m the mum who gets annoyed.

I’m the mum who just can’t deal sometimes. The one who wants to scream and abandon this life when things get particularly hard. The one who gets overwhelmed. The one who cries. The one whose dark eye circles get darker (and deeper) by the day. The one who is exhausted even though her husband pulls most all of the weight at home. I’m the mum who isn’t proud of any of these things.

But, I’m also the mum who knows she’s imperfect - who knows she’s human.

I’m the mum who can calm herself down before her temper gets worse. I’m the mum who explains things to her kids and teaches them hard lessons; the one who seems mean because she stands her ground – the one who won’t give in because she knows that it’s better in the long run. I’m the mum who shows her daughters with her own example that everyone has to say sorry sometimes, especially me. I’m the mum who will teach her children what it means to forgive, because I’ll need to ask for their forgiveness often.

I’m the mum who loves her kids fiercely, even on the worst days. The one who forgets things from time-to-time but stays up long past everyone is asleep at night to make sure that things get done and her family has what they need. I’m the mum who laughs and cuddles and gives more kisses and says more I love you’s than one could ever count in a day. I’m the mum who sings “You Are My Sunshine” over and over at bedtime every night. I’m the mum who sits and stares lovingly with her hand over her heart, taking in the preciousness of the sweet moments while absolutely loving motherhood, despite its challenges and her own imperfections.

I’m the mum who’s thankful for this hard, beautiful life.

Shannon is a full-time working mum of two young girls and a wife to her best friend, Todd. From corporate life to mummy life, she’s your go-to girl. Follow her on her blog, Facebook and Instagram.