Last Thursday I had one of those days.
I got home from the preschool drop off and tried to make the most of the day, but time and exhaustion got the better of me. The baby was crabby, clingy, and refused to nap which left me with no free time and no me time.
I had a less than cordial conversation with my teenaged daughter about limits that left me questioning some of my parenting choices. Then my mother called to rub my nose in it, leaving me questioning all desire to accept future phone calls.
It was kind of a rotten day. I felt like an open soar and continued to offer the opportunity to pour salt on my wounds to those around me. It’s so much easier to feel sorry for myself with evidence that the world is against me. Only months ago had I crawled out of a nine-month bout with postpartum depression and clearly I was still susceptible to the funk. I was knee deep.
My phone buzzed with a facebook notification and I picked it up. It was a post in a South Shore Swap page that I belong to, but it wasn’t a typical post. It was a dreadfully long story and the first few lines immediately intrigued me.
“Dear Mom,
I’ve seen you around. I’ve seen you screaming at your kids in public, I’ve seen you ignoring them at the playground, I’ve seen you unshowered and wearing last night’s pajama pants at preschool drop-off…”
I was immediately offended because she was speaking directly to my fears of inadequacy. I continued reading because I wanted all the ammunition I could find to blast her for judging me. After reading further however, I started to melt and my shoulders started to fall away from my ears. Not only was the author NOT judging my failed attempts at mediocre parenting, she was encouraging my acceptance of them.
I’m not sure at what point I started to bawl my eyes out, but it might have been somewhere after the “I know you didn’t get everything you wanted” part. This post rocked my core and filled me with gratitude. There were comments and likes galore on the post, letting me know I wasn’t alone.
I had to thank the author.
Originally, I thought this was just the rave of some housewife that wanted to cheer us up. I wanted to let her know how much it touched me and ask for permission to write about it on my blog. I sent the poster a private message.
You’re welcome to share it I’m glad it made you feel better! I actually got it from [a fellow member], who got it off her Facebook! I wanted to pass it along to my status and accidentally posted it there! I definitely got more “likes” and more people actually reading it there than I would have on my own page! I am glad it made you feel better though! I think as moms we all have our rough days!
I asked her some more questions and used the answers to do some research. Three websites later I found a post entitled “Dear Less-Than-Perfect Mom” by a beautiful woman named Lea Grover. As it turns out, someone shoplifted the words right off her Becoming SuperMommy blog and posted them on Facebook as their own! It has been cut and pasted all over facebook without Lea’s name attached. It has reached tens of thousands of people and she has received no credit.
Can you imagine? This wonderful woman wrote this amazing post and then this. She had no idea this was happening and was extremely disappointed when I emailed her with the news. She is beyond humble, and forgiving even in this situation. She’s an absolute sweetheart.
I made it my mission to help her and have unfortunately found many “Dear Mom” posts on facebook and some other sites.
I need your help!
If you see this post anywhere, please make it clear that these words are copyrighted. They belong to Becoming SuperMommy and should not be used without her permission. If someone stole her wallet, would you help her fight for it? Sure you would.
John F. Kennedy once said, “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.”
Lea has made a difference.
Let’s help her get her words back.
Awww, thanks!!!!
I'm sorry you had such a shitty day. I know how hard a shitty day can be when you're still pulling out of those PPD holes. I had no idea how much it meant to you.
You're awesome. <3
It meant the world to me and made my day! It has also meant the world to be able to help you get credit for it. It really is an amazing post Lea, and I'm SO grateful I got the chance to read it. The world is on purpose huh?
"You can give me the credit if you like"? Seriously?? That makes me so angry!
That post WAS awesome. Some Facebook page posted it (uncredited) and my friend shared it. I commented on my friend's post and the "original" with a link to yours. I tried to report it to Facebook, but apparently only the original author can do that. I can't remember the name of the page now, but I told Julie when it happened. Julie, did you pass that along? Or do you remember where I told you, so I can find it for her?
So good of you to get the word out! It truly is too bad that people can be ripped off so easily. I hope your days have improved since, my friend!
Wow, that is so wonderful that you actually found the original author after hearing "you can give me the credit if you like" from the individual you contacted. I applaud you for that. I actually saw the same post on FB a week or so ago, but didn't pay attention to where it came from.
How unfortunate that the author's words were taken and posted without her being given credit. If I see the post again, I will call attention to this too.
The internet can be a wonderful place where we all support each other and find comfort in each other's words – unfortunately, it can also be a place where your words are subject to being manipulated or stolen. Good for you for trying to reverse some of what's wrong with the internet!
Julie, you are so awesome. I am going there right now to read this post, but I can tell it's "one of those", I'm not sure if I'm ready to cry. So I'm gonna pretend that I'm just going to look around. I will also do your awesome bidding if I see this post elsewhere.
Wonderful message: from you and the original author. She deserves credit for her words. Thank you for sharing this.
Thanks for sharing this post! It always makes me feel better to hear other moms occasionally feel less than their best. We're all in this together! 🙂