The World's Worst Mother

One of my nieces posted on Facebook that she is afraid she is "the World's Worst Mother."
Ha!  Don't give yourself so much credit!  I'm sure I had that title long before you did.


Every mother is the world's worst or the world's best, not by any objective standard, but by the moods and whims of her children.  This is particularly true when the children are teens, which her children are currently.


I have the distinction of having been reported for child abuse of which I was not guilty.  Lucky for me, the child involved went to the police who verified there were no marks indicating the abuse the child claimed.  Therefore, when that child the next week went to social services, which has to investigate everything reported, there was credible evidence in my favor.  This whole situation, however, filled me with terror.  Eventually I was cleared and all record of the accusation supposedly "expunged," but the anxiety of the experience is easy to recall.


We mothers have to set a standard for conduct.  Some children are going to be compliant and not rock the boat.  Others are going to take every opportunity to try to sink it.  We wouldn't feel so awful about this if we didn't love them so.


I used to tell the non-compliant ones, "I am standing next to the highway jumping up and down and screaming that the bridge is out ahead.  You are ignoring my warnings and zooming by with the accelerator all the way to the floor."  What is a mother to do when she sees disaster looming?  Is she suppose to stand idly by?  No, I say keep jumping up and down!  Maybe...just maybe...they will eventually get the picture before they go crashing over the cliff.


Here's a little secret.  If they do go crashing off the cliff and end up in pieces in the ravine, guess who they are going to call for help?  Be prepared to keep loving them and trying to help them patch up their lives.  Maybe someday they will understand that you are among THE BEST.