12 Ways To Trust Yourself As a Mother

I’ve been on this mothering journey for a little more than seven years. I am sure that a few years from now, I could add to this list. But, for now, I really wanted to write something that gives any mother a little sigh of relief about a touchy topic.

Trusting yourself.

I talk a lot about putting away the parenting books and the parenting magazines and just using your intuition on knowing what’s right for this moment. I believe strongly that we’ll never have the same experiences as parents. Our family cultures vary more than our own backgrounds. What’s good for you won’t necessary be good for me.

But how? I know you’re saying that. I suck at this. I can’t do it very well. I messed up, again.

Enough.

Here are 12 Ways to Trust Yourself as a Mother:

1. Trust that you know more than you think you do. You always do.

2. Trust that this moment will pass and another will come along and it will be bigger and badder than all the rest. When you are literally trying to find the breath that’s been knocked out of you with fear or wiping the tears from sadness or cleaning away your anger and frustration, it helps to know that this is just the quiz. The test comes later.

3. Trust they love you. They really do.

4. Trust they will be fine. I’ve said this before. It’s worth repeating. Your children are fine.

5. Trust in your dreams. They are talking to you.* Listen to them.

6. Trust when you want to say yes. Say it more than you think you should for your sake.

7. Trust when you need to say no. You know when it’s just not the right time or when something’s not fitting or when it just doesn’t feel good.

8. Trust in the power of a good slow day even if means cancelling everything. Cancel everything. The world will still spin tomorrow.

9. Trust their love is more powerful than their words. Love comes in many, many forms and often is shouted in I hate you.

10. Trust children know what is best for themselves. Show them you trust them. Just show them.

11. Trust the strength you hold inside of you — for the hardest of hard. You must believe in your own power. You are immensely strong.

12. Trust that you will sleep again, go out again, walk freely again, create again … your dream will come true if you stick with it. There is great wisdom in going to bed as soon as the children are in bed.

What do you think? What would you add to this list?

Shawn Ledington Fink is the author of The Playful Family, and the Thinking Mama behind Awesomely Awake who is changing the world one family at a time. She is a peace and kindness spreader and offers an e-course called The Abundant Mama Project that leads women into a daily gratitude practice. You can follow Shawn on her Blog or find her on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.