This One's For You, Mom of the Year...

This is new - so I hope you'll play along...

We've all been there. As hard as we try, sometimes we don't catch every little sign that something's wrong. We aren't able to prevent every bump or bruise. We love our children with all our hearts, but we are only human. Super-mom has her kryptonite. We would not be parents if there were times we didn't regret something, if we feared we had somehow irreversably damaged them by some slight on our part. Yet our children seem to be OK. They love us unconditionally and we love them. WE LOVE THEM....that is what matters. So don't be so hard on yourselves. As parents we do all that we can and leave the rest to God. Don't beat yourself up for that one little thing.
That being said I am introducing a new award...

<a href="http://fraasefamily.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="MOM of the Year" src="http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq208/affectionatelyyoursphoto/MOMofyear200px.jpg"/></a>

Here are the rules:

1) Admit that ONE thing you feel awful about involving being a mom. Get it off your shoulders. Once you've written it down, you are NO LONGER allowed to feel bad. It's over with, it's in the past. Remember, you're a good mom!

2)To remind yourself that you ARE a good mom, list SEVEN things you love about your kids, you love doing with your kids, or that your kids love about you. These are the things to remind yourself of EVERY DAY that you rock!

3)Send this to FIVE other Moms of the Year that deserve forgiveness and a reminder that they, too, are the best moms they can be!!! Remember to send them a note to let them know you've selected them, and add a link to the person who nominated you!

So here's my story:

When MD was about 20 months old we were on our way out of our apartment so that I could go to work by way of the baby sitter's. MD was already in his jammies (I work overnights). Garbage bag in one hand, I couldn't carry him, so I led him out the door. He was slow getting out as steps were still kinda new to him. I tugged to get him moving, only looking forward. He wouldn't move from the doorway and was starting to throw a fit. So I thought. I look back to see that the heavy door had closed on his two smallest fingers...and I was TUGGING on him!! I actually had to open the door back up to free his little fingers! Blood was starting to run down his arm and on to his jammies. I had nearly taken off the tip of his ring finger and his pinky was flattened. At the ER we learned that he had fractured the ring finger. To this day that finger is scarred and the nail is odd shaped. I felt SO horrible for being so concerned about getting to work that I didn't see the door close on him!

The things I love about my kids:

1. They always want to play games with me, apparently I'm not lame yet.

2. Jumping on mom's bed is allowed. No jumping off, no pushing.

3. I'll say no to a toy, but I'll almost never say no to a book at the store.

4. I make mac & cheese from scratch, no boxed stuff!

5. I've spent entire days at a park because I didn't have a good enough excuse to ask the kids to leave.

6. My hubby & I love art, we always have a large supply of plain white paper, markers, pencils, pastels, paints etc. and encourage the kids to create!

7. I've breastfed all of my kids past 1 year (well, I'm still working on the last), I feel really good about being able to do that.

The five moms I'd like to nominate are:
The RaMbLeR @ the Rambler (you are my inspiration for this!), Abby @ Me and My Boys, Keri @ It Flickers Dimly, Jen @ Life is Chaos, Give Me More, Dawn @ Dawn's Diversions

Play along if you want, or anyone else who wants to, grab the button and nominate your own crew. And remember, YOU ARE ALL AWESOME MOMS!!!