Welcome to Mom Motivation Mondays where weekly contributing writers share their motherhood experiences to encourage you to find the joy in being a mom.

{This week: Post by Lisa}

My eight year old son entered a sport cake decorating contest and the boy with the best cake got a basketball.

I didn’t have time to bake the cake and so I picked up one from the bakery.  For the decorations, I bought donuts and cookies for my son to make baseballs, basketballs, and soccer balls.

Justin had so much fun decorating his cake.  It was a blast to watch him.

But friends, I’m not sure how to describe what he designed.

The sport balls were covered in caramel frosting that screamed poop. The cake looked like it got hit by a baseball bat and landed in the mud.  Who would eat this cake?   Despite the mess, my son was proud.  In his eyes he created a master piece.  He was excited to show off his work and eat it.

I was worried that his cake wasn’t good enough and it wasn’t in the eyes of an adult.  Apparently I didn’t receive the same memo that the other moms did.  Their cakes were not decorated by their kids. Instead the work was done by talented moms.  (Pinterest duplications covered every inch of the display table.)

I wanted to run away.  I failed my son.  I should have helped him more.

Guilt shot through me like a wave and I felt bad that my son didn’t win or at least have a presentable cake.  I was mad at myself for not doing a better job for him. 

At the end of the night he was the only one who ate his cake.  He smiled with joy and took pleasure in every bite.   I’m so glad he didn’t get a stomach ache!  Afterwards he thanked me for helping him.

My son’s gratitude reminded me that this wasn’t about me.

It was all about having fun and doing his own thing.

I want to be more like my son.  When he was decorating his cake he had fun playing, experimenting, tasting, and using his imagination.  He was himself. 

I want to be myself and enjoy the things I do.  I’m tired of always second guessing myself or comparing myself to others.

It’s o.k. to be different.

Mommas, we don’t have to measure ourselves by other people’s standards.   The next time you decorate a cake don’t try to make it like somebody else’s.  Instead challenge yourself to use your own imagination and create something from your heart.  Don’t worry how it comes out.  Enjoy the process.

We can live, laugh and love when we dance to our own beat.  God has put a song in us.  Be you!!!  Life doesn’t have to be competitive all the time.

My talent isn’t in cake decorating.  It’s in encouraging my son to be brave and creative.

My life song as a Mom is to help my kids be themselves and appreciate their God given gifts. 

Let your talents shine too.  Your kids love you just the way you are.

Nobody can take the place of you.

I was forty when I got married. I had my first child in 2008 and my second child in 2010. I am not a young mom.  I’ve been married since 2006 to an amazing man that is my best friend and we live in Colorado. Before I had children I was a Preschool Teacher. Now I’m a Home School Teacher.

I write to encourage and inspire. Life is messy and sometimes makes no sense. I don’t have all the answers or claim to have it all together. I’m learning that I don’t have to be perfect. I’m loved by God just because, and so are you. My posts are meant to help you hang in there when you feel like giving up. Join us at Me Too Moments for Moms to connect with other moms seeking faith and joy in this season of life.