A Mothering Badge of Honour (for a Day Well Done)

We live in a culture where what is valued is rewarded with money, medals, certificates, public acclaim. But for those of us that parent at home, all those badges are notably absent.

Oftentimes I give myself a hard time. For not being perfect. For being crabby, impatient, sarcastic, frustrated, even a little shouty. For serving my family a ready meal. For having a messy, messy house. For having the day before yesterday's washing up still stacked by the sink. For having a laundry mountain the size of Kilimanjaro.

Well today (well, by the time you read this, it was yesterday!) I give myself top marks. Today I earned my mama badge of honour for a good day's work. Issued by myself. And so I share with you my day: the highs and lows of being a stay at home mama, the drudgery and simple joys of this, my path, which may be yours too...

I woke multiple times in the night to breastfeed my baby...and wasn't resentful.
I was woken just after dawn by a tumbling of children crawling all over me and scratching my face...and I didn't shout.
I cooked porridge that wasn't eaten.
Made a packed lunch that was
Brushed my hair (it doesn't happen every day!) and put on clean tights - (ditto!)
I MADE MY BED!!!!
Unloaded the dishwasher - blaaah - I HATE washing up and dishwashers, but I didn't think bad thoughts, so double brownie points!
Got myself and two girls dressed without a tantrum (I'm a terror for tantruming when I get dressed- just ask my mother!)
De-iced the car.
Got to playgroup. EARLY. And it wasn't my turn. And so set up.
Sold 5 Wallbooks and a copy of JUNO.
Got the car back for my husband in time.
Cooked a rather yummy mushroom soup and hummous for friends who came to lunch.
Managed to light the wood burner - that alone deserve a gold medal.
Baked and iced gingerbread men WITH my children - that deserves a gold medal too.
Tidied house and loaded dishwasher and did a load of washing - blaa blaa...
Did much JUNO administrative correspondence and bagged myself a review copy of a book I've been wanting for ages - score!
And checked my blog stats once or twice, and saw that 50 people read my last blog post - thank you people!
Cooked supper...and pudding.
Didn't shout at my 2 year-old once... even though she asked to stir the custard in the jug a million times in a whingey voice ...or when she wouldn't put on a top and it's freezing today...or when she spilt her custard...or when she wanted a red straw and we didn't have one...or.... you get the picture.
Helped my baby practice her walking.
Averted a very messy world war three when two children were fighting over wanting to poo in the same toilet.
Wiped a lotta botties.
Helped put the older two hyper kids to bed before dealing with babsy.
Oh sugar, just realised I forgot to do homework with my son - oops!
And was nice to my husband ALL day - that certainly doesn't happen every day of the week (sorry PT!)
And wrote a blog post!

And gave myself a pat on the back for an under appreciated and unpaid job well done, and rewarded myself with a hot bath, watching a little cookery porn, sorry, Nigella on the telly, and took to bed early... to write a book review on the fact that the end of the world is nigh - ah well!

And I'll do it all over again tomorrow

No need for fan letters, I'm not fishing. How was YOUR day? Give yourself a pat on the back, or a break, instead.