Perfection Pending

By Meredith Ethington

  • My Books
    • The Mother Load
    • Mom Life: Perfection Pending – The Book
    • Free eBook: Sometimes Motherhood Sucks
    • How To Grow Your FB Following
  • Motherhood
    • Inspiration
    • Encouragement
    • Childhood
    • Humor
    • Parenting Memes
    • Friendship
    • Marriage
  • Kid Ideas
    • Recipes
    • Practical Tips
    • Babies & Toddlers
    • teens and tweens
    • The Elementary School Years
  • Mental Health
    • Mental Health
    • Anxiety
  • About
    • Favorite Posts
    • My Portfolio
    • Privacy & Disclosures

Encouragement Humor Inspiration

9 Things My Kids Would Be Surprised To Learn About Their Mom

  • Share
  • Tweet

My 8-year-old daughter lost her ring today. Shocker, I know. After painstakingly searching the living room carpet we were able to find it. She was relieved, but of course, being the mom that I am, I did not let her escape without a short lecture. I reminded her about responsibility and the importance of leaving your rings on. I explained to her that though her ring only cost about $20, mommy’s ring was much more expensive and therefore I had to be very careful.

“Where did you get that ring, mom?” My other daughter inquired.

“Your daddy gave it to me when he asked me to marry him.”

“Wait, what?”

She was dumbfounded. And that’s when I realized that my children have no idea who I am or who I was before I had them. I’m mom, the doer of dishes and thawer of frozen meats. Nothing more. A staple of their lives, but not with a backstory. Merely Alfred, to their Bruce Wayne or Mrs. Potts to their Belle.

But the truth is I was totally Bruce Wayne in my life, and I can prove it. Here are 9 things my kids don’t know about their mom.

I was athletic.

You know that dusty contraption in the garage you mistook for a fly swatter? Little do you know, but that is mommy’s tennis racquet. Back in the day I had quite the backhand, and I still have the forearms to show for it. I was also catcher on my softball team. A team that was undefeated 5 years in a row. I ran hard and played hard. I don’t know if my kids have ever seen me run, except for the time I ran after my youngest in Target before she could take out an entire display of alarm clocks.

I invented odd behavior.

You’re looking at the girl who got putting pencils in your hair banned from my elementary school. I used to sing silly songs, and act out scenes from my favorite movies. I also discovered a way to smell my own belly button, which to this day I still consider to be a major accomplishment.

Those things that are your things, they were mine first!

Power Rangers? Mine. My Little Pony? Mine. Disney Princesses? ALL MINE. Don’t even get me started on the Hatchimal, which is just basically a rip off of my Tamagotchi. Come talk to me about leveling up your Draggle after you’ve kept a blob that was hooked to your belt loop alive for an entire school day. Amateurs.

I’m a picky eater.

In fact, I’m pickier than two of my three kids. I don’t care for fruit or vegetables at all. You’ll never see me choking down a carrot or banana, but you better believe those little girls better eat all their veggies or they don’t get any dessert, which I get regardless of whether or not I eat my green beans. I delight in my own hypocrisy and consider it payback for not having a good night’s sleep in 9 years.

I used to wear high heels.

I was never a stiletto girl, but I did rock a wedge or two prechildren. Now I’m lucky to remember to put on my ballet flats for church on Sunday. My children know nothing but a 5’3” mother with a pair of Chucks or flip flops permanently plastered on her feet. I haven’t bought any Crocs yet, but to the mothers that have I’m Katniss saluting you through the screen.

I used to have a job.

I used to work. I used to get up in the morning, get ready for the day and hit the grind. I would plan out my outfits and coordinating jewelry. I would pride myself on a good performance review. I’d come home tired, or so I thought I was tired. I went to college, I got a degree. I started a teaching career, and I loved it. I miss it sometimes. I miss the identity, and the structure. I crave the adult conversation. I miss the jewelry. Maybe I will go back…when they’re older.

I was a nice girl and a mean girl.

Despite my best efforts as a child I did succumb to the stereotypical girl behavior as most girls do, and I was mean. In third grade I created The Sports Club (because I was athletic, remember), and believe me it was exclusive. I eventually caused quite a stir with my make shift secret society of 8 year olds, and The Sports Club was eventually vetoed by the principal. I learned my lesson, and all was forgiven at my summer birthday party that was all inclusive. I’m happy to report that I haven’t started any secret societies since then and I’m a better person for it. It’s exhausting planning a sports activity weekly when you’re 8, with no money, transportation, or know how.

My children are my greatest fear.

When my youngest was born there were significant complications. We had nurses telling us to pray, to do everything we could spiritually to bring about healing. I cried in front of so many doctors I can’t even count. I’ve never been so scared, or prayed so hard. Thankfully God granted me a tender mercy, and she was okay. The fear I felt was indescribable. Thinking about it still shakes me to my core. I thought I was going to lose one of them, one that I had only known a few hours at the time, but would have given my own life to save.

My children are my life.

By far my greatest accomplishment in this life is being their mother. They are my soul, my heart, my spirit walking outside of my body. When we are together I am whole, and I am fulfilled. I know that I joke about what a pain in the butt they are, and believe me at times it is more truth than jest, but that’s part of the job description. When I think about my life before my children, I can’t picture it. Life was dull. Sure, it had jewelry, high heels, and perhaps a slighter frame, but I wouldn’t trade motherhood for any of it.

Someday my lovely daughters will realize that their mother is a person, with thoughts and experiences to share and learn from. However, until then I had better get back to the joys of motherhood, because we all know that empty pudding cup isn’t going to walk itself to the trash can.

***

Melissa Sackett is a mother of 3 daughters, and wife to 1 husband. When she’s not singing minivan karaoke or destroying a blanket fort she’s having fun over on her page Difficult Mommy. Make sure to follow her on Instagram and Facebook, too.


Leave a Comment

« Why Every Elephant Counts And How YOU Can Win A Trip To Africa
25 Christmas Cookie Recipes Perfect To Make With Kids »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome! I’m Meredith.

Mom. Writer. Diet Coke connoisseur. Born and raised Texan. Lover of real talk and laughter with a hint of sarcasm mixed in.

The Mother Load

Perfection Pending on Instagram

Meredith Ethington

perfectpending

Mom • Author • Mental Health Therapist In Training
Grab my new book, The Mother Load, available now. 👇👇

Night night! 😤 Night night! 😤
If you missed my last post about how raising teens If you missed my last post about how raising teens can wreck you mentally….wellll this is part of the reason why. So lonely! But we are in this together somehow. 😂 Make sure to check out my latest substack and grab a copy of my book —- The Mother Load!
NEW ---> "When there are problems in these big kid NEW ---> "When there are problems in these big kid years, it’s no longer really acceptable to call a friend and air the annoyances of the situation. At least not the specifics.

Sure, you can commiserate with a fellow parent about teenagers being the worst.

But, to be honest - they’re not the worst. They’re kind of amazing. But their problems make me tired to my core." 

Read the latest on my substack. I promise you'll relate. ❤️
So sweet. ❤️ Follow me @perfectpending and bet So sweet. ❤️
Follow me @perfectpending and better yet buy my book or subscribe to my substack to support me.
"I don’t know about you, but I don’t really wa "I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want same-ness anymore. I want messy. I want admissions that shit is hard and we don’t have it all together. I want to have a makeup free, messy bun in my sweats run in with a mom friend and not feel worried she’s checking out my un-groomed eyebrows.

I don’t want to try to give off this illusion that I’m control of my life any better than the next person. It’s a shitshow for all of us, and we continue to hide it for fear of what? Being human?"

Read the rest on my Substack. Link in profile.
WHAT IF THIS IS THE HAPPIEST I’LL EVER BE AND I WHAT IF THIS IS THE HAPPIEST I’LL EVER BE AND I MISS IT? What if I miss the best time of my life. What if it’s right this second?
What if it’s right now while I’m in finals week of grad school, and have a kid that’s sick? 
I already miss so much. The gummy smiles of babes without any teeth. The squeaky voices of 2 year olds. The babbling of a baby that’s just trying so hard to say mama. The grammar mistakes my kids make when they’re talking that I don’t have the heart to correct because I love it too much. 

I miss a lot about those younger years that have already slipped away. My youngest is sick, much like in this picture, but he is too big to snuggle in my arms now when he’s running a fever. 

Today I had the thought, what if this is it? What if this IS the happiest I’ll ever be?
For a moment, I lingered in that thought as I stood over my sink and did the dishes. I started to cry.
Am I missing it? AM I? I felt a tug that maybe I was. Maybe I wasn’t relishing enough, and enjoying enough, and being present enough.
But, then I realized, it will never be ENOUGH. 

Read the rest in my substack ❤️
New year, same me. 😂 #mentalhealth #anxiety #de New year, same me. 😂
#mentalhealth #anxiety #depression
"I don't care" as I literally care about every sin "I don't care" as I literally care about every single thing.
I’ve got to admit - I’m kind of over all of th I’ve got to admit - I’m kind of over all of this. *sweeps arm generally at planet earth*

Look, I’ve never been a half glass full kind of gal. I can ALWAYS find the negative in every situation. 

But, right now it’s easy to say that I’m over it. It being.....

The state of our economy. Social media. People being unemployed. People being racist and homophobic. The debate over politics. People judging people. ALLLLLL of it. 

Everything is crap right now. We joke about it a lot. We have to in order to survive. 

It’s the one millionth day of January but Spring feels so far away. 

I’m over these four damn walls that we call home. 

Yeah, I know. Even as I’m typing this it all sounds like a bunch of ungrateful whiney BS. I hear it. I don’t need you to point it out, Karen. 

But, my guess is you’re reading this right now and realizing you’re over it too. Whatever “it” is in your life.

Some days the world feels like total crap. Everything is a mess. Everything costs too much. For E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y. 

Yes, even for you Karen. ➡️➡️ to keep reading.
Yes. Boundaries are healthy and good. And they mea Yes. Boundaries are healthy and good. And they mean someone loves you that much to communicate them! Love this wisdom from @wittyidiot
NEW POST ----> "This is not a post about loss of a NEW POST ----> "This is not a post about loss of a loved one. Or loss of a child. Those things are real, and they’re heart wrenching. And, this post is certainly not to compare that loss with the one I’m going to talk about.

But, the loss of yourself in motherhood is real. And It’s not talked about enough." 

Do you feel like you lost yourself in motherhood? How? I really want to know. 

Psss - I am in grad school to become a therapist, and am not ashamed to ask that you subscribe to my paid substack. I just lowered the cost to $36/year! That's like $4/month and you'll have access to all my previous posts, and some new weekly short posts to give you ideas to help with balancing motherhood and your own mental health. I'm learning a lot in school, and will only continue to do so, so subscribe and we'll support each other. ❤️
This memory made me laugh this morning. 🤣 This memory made me laugh this morning. 🤣
Saaaame. @womenwhorunwiththemoon Saaaame. @womenwhorunwiththemoon
I’m sorry are you really wearing doc martens and I’m sorry are you really wearing doc martens and a dress with spaghetti straps and a Tshirt under it while you’re telling me I’m doing it wrong? 🤣 Life is wild. Teenagers are fun.
Found in my pediatricians office. 🤣 What’s th Found in my pediatricians office. 🤣 What’s the moral of the story friends? If you think your household is always sick - it’s because they probably are. Kids make everything more germ-y
Here’s what I do know 👇 No one knows what th Here’s what I do know 👇

No one knows what they’re doing. 
We all feel like imposters. 
Our kids love us anyway. 
We’re all going to be OK. 
You’ve got this (as much as any of us do) 😘

#momspiration #momlife #funnymoms #memtalhealth #parentinglife #parentingquotes
"By trying to be perfect, we're actually trying to "By trying to be perfect, we're actually trying to avoid being human." 

Do you struggle with perfectionism? Parenthood has helped me quite a bit, but It's something I've battled my whole life. I still struggle occasionally, although it's gotten better. But, let's stop trying to avoid being human and instead embrace ourselves an in turn embrace the entire human race. ❤️ I'd love to hear how you embrace being imperfect. 

#perfecționism #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #anxiety #imperfect #perfectpending #themotherload #thementalload
Mood. Mood.
Some of you wanted sources on my last reel where I Some of you wanted sources on my last reel where I said we only need to be getting it right 30% of the time for our kids to have secure attachments. Well I wrote a bit more about the concept of being the “good enough mother” a term coined in the 50’s by a researcher and pediatrician. Check it all out in my newest post. Link in profile.
It’s true! Researchers have found that as long a It’s true! Researchers have found that as long as you’re doing the repair after mistakes the other times - then 30% is enough! Sometimes I worry I’m not doing it right but I definitely know I’m doing it right 30% of the time! 
Probably a whole lot more to be honest. I bet you are too. #momlife #encouragement #momspiration
Load More Follow on Instagram

You might also like

The Greatest Gift Is To Watch Your Child Leave You

Mom holding baby in nursery and yawning

When Does Parenting Get Less Exhausting? Newsflash – Never.

Dad holding tired girl after trick or treating during Halloween in the 80's

Halloween in The 80’s Was the Best Ever

mom forcing a smile with fingers and blue background

Stop Complaining About Motherhood. Here Are 21 Reasons You Shouldn’t

Here’s How to Deal With Hating Being a Parent

Copyright © 2025 · Perfection Pending · Designed by Krizzy Designs

Copyright © 2025 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in