TURN THE TV OFF: Am I doing enough?

In today’s world of social media and the spirit of comparison, as mothers we often wonder if we’re doing enough. Am I engaging with the kids enough? Are they learning enough? Is everyone happy enough? Are they staying busy enough? With everyone else’s routines on constant display, its easy to slip into comparing our lives with others’ highlight reels. We find ourselves in a rotation of trying to measure up to an illusionary motherhood fairytale.

The truth is we were never supposed to bear witness to so much of each other’s lives. We live in a society now where the TV of others is constantly playing. In order for us to truly tap into our own rhythm we have to turn the TV off, sis. Kendrick told us. And by no means have I been living this notion. 3 kids in, I’m just now truly understanding the effects of social media. The constant access to others that I really didn’t ask for. The constant displaying of my own routines that could be causing comparison in another mama. I’m just now harnessing the power to release the hold that social media, and particularly Instagram, has had on my thoughts and emotions.

Turning the TV off looks like focus on self and home. Tuning into our own thoughts and realizing that our only comparison is to ourselves from yesterday. Did the kids laugh today? That’s a good day! Are there toys everywhere? That’s a good day! That means joy is present. Some days are perfectly, nutritionally balanced dinner plates and other days its grilled cheese and chips. Both days the kids are fed. Both days the kids are loved. Both days the kids are happy.

You are enough, mama. If you’re doing your best, giving your all, and prioritizing your kids well being, you are doing enough! The fact that we even ask ourselves this question is indication that we care. Now the assignment is to banish the group comparison and channel that energy inward. My contribution to the solution would be this suggestion:

What would happen if we just went analog? Stop overstimulating each other with moving digital noise and connected our experiences together via words. Photos. Ditch the group platform and bring back personal blogs and forums. Ehh, perhaps thats just my dreamer mind wishing for a reset that the world isn’t ready for. But hey, its worth throwing it out there….