I have decided to dedicate a section of the Mama Knows Mess blog to anyone who may want to share their story! Anonymously or named, I believe everyone deserves to share! Here is the first submission to be published!

“She’s a small-town, hard-working woman just trying to make a living

Working three jobs, feeding four little mouths in a run-down kitchen

When you never taking nothing and doing nothing but giving

It’s hard to be a good wife and a good mom and a good Christian

She said, I don’t drink

But sometimes I need a stiff drink

Sipping from a high, full glass

Let the world fade away

She said, I don’t smoke 

But sometimes I need a long drag

Yeah, I know it might sound bad

But sometimes I need a smoke break

(Smoke Break – Carrie Underwood) 

We all have a vice, at least one… 

Some of us have collected many over our years. 

For me? Well, load me a bowl, light me a cigarette, give me some whiskey and I’ll deal with anything. 

I’ve never related to a song so well. I’m a single mom feeding *one* kid, I’ve worked multiple jobs at a time, and sometimes, you just need something to help you relax. 

We put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect all the time, because we don’t want anyone to see us otherwise. We have to be perfect moms, perfect friends, perfect daughters, host amazing parties, keep up with the Jones’ so to speak…. but goodness, that’s a lot of work. And honestly, why do we care if someone thinks we’re imperfect? 

Why does it matter what someone thinks of us? Truthfully, it doesn’t. 

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized more and more that not everyone is going to like you, and it’s not the end of the world if they don’t. YOU DON’T NEED THAT PERSON IN YOUR LIFE. 

You have to live your life, in a way that makes YOU happy, not anyone else, YOU. 

We make mistakes, every single one of us has made at least a dozen of them, and I’m tired of trying to hide them. I want to make mistakes and grow from them. I want to show my son that it’s ok to make mistakes, and I want to teach him what to do when he makes his own. 

The Good Lord and I have had many a conversation about my mistakes, I’ve asked for forgiveness, and I’ve made my peace with him. He knows I’m not a saint, he knows I’m a sinner, but He still loves me. As I am. 

And that’s enough for me. That’s the only approval needed.”
-Anonymous

*If you would like to share your story, please feel free to email your submission to mamaknowsmess@gmail.com!