What Are Your Strengths as a Mom?

I don't know what my strengths as a mom are. I really don't know. Perhaps I have none. But my children still love me, and I love them like a rock. I am their provider and I work hard. But so does everybody. Actually, maybe I only have weaknesses.

Mine would have to been that I've compensated for the lack of Mom voice. My "yell" is a slightly louder version of my voice, so tend to either snap or clap at him to get his attention. I know that may seem odd as it seems like something that you'd do to a dog. But... I can't yell and he knows to get to attention when I do it. It comes in handy when he's about to do something dangerous and needs a yell. I clap and he knows to stop.

My son has Autism and I feel I've been a good advocate for him and look at what he CAN do verses what he can't. I'm also going to be a sped teacher and he has a classmate with a severe disability. I've taught him to know what she can do vs. can't. I think I'm good at trying to show that positive side to people.

Talking things out... we all discipline differently and there are times I think it's more effective to chat about what was wrong, why it was wrong and what would have been a better choice. We have a lot of chats. :-)

I am the go to mom when my kids friends need advice and don't want to go to their own parents.

I hang our tee shirts up, more like Abercrombie.

Sorry I will end it here because I really want to be snotty. Exactly why did you have to ruin a perfectly good post by adding you are a stay at home mom as if that is a strength, it is a choice.

Here is how strange your post is to me. It took Eve's post about her son having Autism to remember that my son has Autism too. A mom doesn't think about everything she does, she just does it.

listening... even when I don't want to hear what is being said. (for various reasons) Being a great shoulder to cry on. Great advice but ONLY when asked. Doing my best NOT to judge. You can't judge if you have never lived that persons life. One day in someone else's shoes may change your whole perspective.
FYI- I don't think that being a stay at home Mom is a strength. I think it requires strength, but so does working full time and being a mom. I have done both, and they are equally challenging. I kind of doubt that you meant that in any way to imply that made you "better" than others who don't stay at home, however.............. it may have come across that way. (Not to me though) I think it was more like, the reason I have gotten so skilled at folding t shirts and even caring how well folded they are is because I am a stay at home Mom? Maybe? Anyway, we all have strengths, as evidenced by how much we all need each other's opinions on this site! :)

I like this. : )

I know when I NEED to walk away [losing your patience happens and not everyone recognizes the right time to go and cool off].

I apologize to my children when it's deserved. It shows them that I'm not perfect either and that it doesn't hurt to say sorry. It also shows them that I respect them as people.

I can show my kids how something works.

I recognize that sometimes my kids just want a hug [even though I just want to choke em] so I hug them, kiss them, and talk to them.

My 8yr old daughter knows that she can talk to me about ANYTHING. Even if it's about being angry with me.

And everyone's favorite [albeit not necessarily my kids]... If I do the super loud "stadium" whistle, my kids know that I mean business and want to know EXACTLY where they are and what they're doing. Generally, the reaction from them is for them to come running and tell me that they're comin. It's not something I resort to often, but they certainly know what it means and it gets attention.

ETA- I know I'm not a good SAHM. I've tried it. I feel I'm way better doing what I do now. Neither are better or worse. It's what's right for us as women/families. I didn't take your comment about being a SAHM as a crappy comment... It's just what YOU do. But I can see where some may have issues with it.

I can fold fitted sheets GREAT!! Someone on here told me I should give youtube lessons!! LOL!!! Maybe you should do that for your t-shirt folding!!

My strength as a mom? ooohhhh I would guess my ability to multi-task with my kids....volunteering at the school for both of them...

My mommy voice is GOOD too...yeah - surprise, surprise, surprise!! I can quiet a room full of children in less than 5 seconds....other mom's just ask "how do you do that?" I get 55 kids to pick up their LEGOs and make it look like it didn't happen...guess that's a talent!!!

I have a great sense of humor (some self-deprecating), tons of common sense, seasoned multi-tasker, hard worker, I'm a no fuss/no muss kinda lady, and I've got a "look" that can pierce a brain when I'm not in the mood for fooling around. I've also "been there, done that" as a teenager/young 20s so I imagine not too much is going to get past me when we come to that point with our daughter ;)

Being open and honest about the way things are and how they function from the time he could talk (in a way he could understand depending on his age at the time). Loving my son unconditionally! I love him more than anything else in this world!! I am so lucky to be his mom!

My mom strength is the same as everyone else's I'd imagine: We Don't Like Tooting Our Own Horn!

(Well, most of us anyway!)

:)

I am great at listening to my kids...really listening. I am great at soothing them when they are upset. I am awesome at doing creative art projects with them. I have good hand eye coordination. My husband was out of town a week ago and I took our son to his cub scouts meeting. They were making bird houses and I was the only adult there who could successfully hammer in those tiny thin nails that wanted to bend. I felt like I found a skill I never knew I had! ;) I am terrible at folding neatly...hate it! I now hang all my husband's t-shirts up in the closet!

I love this question! Happy thoughts for mom day. My strengths:

* I am an expert toilet paper roll changer! It must be a rare skill because I am the only one who seems to be able to remove the old tube and put on a fresh roll!
* I excel in dishes, too. They are NOT poisonous, I do survive quite nicely even after unloading and re-loading the dishwasher several times a day. It must be a psychic ability to know that dishes in the sink mean "dishes need to be done" but I am the only one in my house with that unique power. ; )

* On the serious side, I have boys that are smart, kind and make good choices. They have compassion for others and have balanced academics, sports and part-time jobs and have never gotten into major trouble, and they actually try to help others get out of trouble. I hope they have learned some of this from me. That would make me very happy as a Mom!!

I show my kids that it is ok to NOT be perfect. I make mistakes, I apologize. We try to keep perspective with expectations of appropriate behavior, pick our battles and realize that they are kids maneuvering through a troubled world. Mistakes and challenges bring growth and maturity...don't always need a punishment.

Mistakes are what gives us perspective on life and sympathy and charity towards others. I think this has helped them accept themselves with warts and all.(and they actually do have warts...those things are pesky and we have a dr. appt AGAIN to get rid of them)

This also has taught them that they can talk to us about ANYTHING. They don't fear our wrath. We get disappointed in them and talk about wrongdoings but they feel comfortable to discuss things with us because we rarely "punish". My son yesterday wanted to talk to me about pornography and masturbation..terms he had heard recently and didn't understand what it all was. He brought it up with me...I didn't initiate that discussion at all even though we have touched upon those subjects when having "the talk" a year ago. I think I was actually asking him what snack he would like. They have things on their mind, struggles in their heart and joys to share. I want open communication instead of fear of punishment or disapproval.

I understand your SAHM comment but you are getting flack. I am a SAHM and absolutely love it! But I think you should have explained a little better what you meant. I think you just meant you have a little more time to perfect the "home maintenance" type chores and you are proud of it.

Good luck and best wishes!!

Loving my child like no one else can. I know that at only 2 years old my daughter knows that I will always be there for her and will always do everything I can to make her happy, feel better, fix a bobo, whatever needs to be done - I am the go to. I just hope she never forgets that as she gets older =)

I have the ability to love my son like nobody's business and because of that love, I find strength and patience that even I didn't know I had. I doubt my ability to do a lot of things in this world but I am always 100% confident that my son knows he is my world and that he is loved and I'm so proud of that! :)

Consistency- If i say it i mean it and i don't say it if i don't mean it. They know when i am serious and they know that my threats will actually happen.

Nutrition- I make it fun and interesting by sneaking in stuff, letting them help me cook, make a forest or faces with food, constantly get elaborately different and exciting food. I also have no qualms about being their short order cook, we all like different stuff and i will base our meals on this. I want them to enjoy getting all their veggies, fruit whole grains, clean protein and good fats.

...most of all though they know, without a doubt that they are my life and without them i would be lost.

I have a good sense of humor, which honestly, has been the only thing that got me thru some days.........
Good imagination too - which helps us have fun!

Thank you for asking this. I needed that today! I read to my kids, all five of them, and they all love reading. Well, okay, one doesn't love TO read, but will do anything to get me to read to HIM :)

I taught my just turned four year old to read because I recognized he was bored and had the readiness (he's his own breed, I'm not overall a big advocate of early reading unless it's self started).

I can see the unique gifts and challenges in each of my five kiddos and parent them accordingly (which is just plain tiring, I will admit!) but my husband wants the same everything for each, which just doesn't work out when one cries if you look at her sharply and another could care less if she was punished to high heavens!!

My house is not immaculate, but it is always tidy enough and the laundry is usually caught up. No one else notices that, but it keeps me sane :)

Thanks again. I needed to know I was doing something right today!

It depends on what age your children are as to what strengths you need. When mine were young I could make 25 kids jump back from the edge of a pond to keep them safe and their parents wanted to know what happened. Just a different tone in the voice and they all understood to move back.

I was a play buddy to my son when he was the only child. We did lots of things until baby sister came along. There were still special days that we did things together without sister that was daddy quality time.

What's your point? Folding tee-shirts and bedding is great. We all have a special task we feel proud of. I had floors that you could eat off of when baby sister was small and learning how to walk. Dinner was made fresh from scratch different every night and the house was spotless and clothes put away. I even had time to do things for myself. I did this as a SAHM and as a working full time momma with sports and scouts thrown in.

Sorry if I feel snarky about this one but it hit a nerve. It makes you sound like you are putting down working moms. Try being a military wife with hubby gone halfway around the world, two sick kids, a car or two that won't work, regular housework to be done, a dog to care for, a lawn that needs to be mowed and a job to go to and still be a cheerleader for dad that is not there. Then maybe you can feel "good" about yourself and what you have accomplished.

We all have big hearts and big shoulders for children to cry on. We all listen to the problems and give suggestions when asked. We all have found ways to make things work when all hope seemed lost. We all have/will be there at midnight to 3 am waiting for the kid(s) to come home from a date or being with friends. We all have been there for a friend of a friend to come over and need an extra shoulder to cry on. We all will cry on the day that our child gets married and starts a new life with someone else. We all tell our children day in and day out that we love them and would move heaven and earth to protect them to the best of our ability. The special thing I get is when my kid says to me: "Thanks, Mom, I love you." It makes it all worthwhile.

I will step off my soapbox now before I am put in timeout.

The other S.

EDIT: To add to this I have always been an independent woman before I was a mom and have never let the "mom" take precedence over anything else in my life. Children are for a season. I made this choice many years ago so that when the day came that the children were gone I could continue with my life and not have an empty nest syndrome. I felt a loss when they left but I was not lost in not knowing myself and what I could do. Besides I have hobbies that keep me busy and active and connected to the adult world along with a job.