10 Important Qualities of a Good Mother!
I am certain that during your motherhood journey, you have asked yourself, “Do I have the qualities of a good mother?” It is a normal part of the process to question your motherhood qualities, compare yourself with other moms, question your abilities, and even feel guilty at times.
Does that sound familiar?
I can tell you by experience that I have felt all types of ways during my motherhood journey. Often I think I am the most fantastic mom on the planet, and other times I feel like a total failure.
There are a lot of expectations that come along with motherhood. After all, we are raising tiny humans.
No, pressure, right?
There is no job like the job of a mother. There is no responsibility alike.
So, how exactly do we tackle that responsibility, and what qualities can help us become the best mom we can be? Well…
So, what makes a good mother?
So, what exactly makes a good mother?
Well, one that always looks put together, cooks gourmet organic dishes, speaks softly, and keeps her home shiny, tidy, and smelling fabulous… all… the… time!
Right?
Not so much! Unrealistic expectations of what makes a good mother only feed into the ridiculous idea that we, somehow, are a flawless machine!
The reality is that some days, we only want to use the toilet without a naked toddler singing the ABCs, standing on a step stool in front of the sink. Is that too much to ask?
So, it all comes down to the basics and common sense. It is finding a healthy balance of motherhood attributes that we naturally possess, acquire along the way, and constantly work to improve daily.
What are the Qualities Of A Good Mother?
As you read through these “qualities of a good mother,” the goal isn’t to achieve perfection. Or to feel guilty about not excelling at a particular quality.
Instead, the goal is to create awareness of these characteristics of motherhood that we should be working on. Remember, motherhood isn’t a destination; it is a journey. And every day, we are given a fresh start to try again.
So, if you have been wondering what are the characteristics of a good mother and what we can work to improve on, here are 1o Important Qualities of a Good Mother…
1. Loving
Out of all the qualities of a good mother, I believe being a loving mom is number one!
With love, all other characteristics can be worked on and improved on.
Love is the one critical ingredient. Loving our children doesn’t mean we always live in a love bubble, skipping in a field of flowers and butterflies.
Love is in the little moments of our everyday. Love is in the sacrifices, the messes; love is in the ordinary.
Love bears all and conquers all. Love is the reason we strive every day to provide for our children because we love them.
Tips for being a Loving Mom:
Although mothers show their love for their children in different ways worldwide, some acts of love towards our children are universal.
- hugs
- kisses
- encouraging words
- practicing present parenting
- taking an interest in their day
- engaging in loving conversations
- being supportive
These are all just simple examples of how to be a loving mother.
2. Patient
Part of being a good mom involves being patient and calm.
This motherhood quality is a big one, and I feel it is a constant work in progress—at least for me.
There is so much going on that we aren’t always ready and willing to be patient with our children.
Characteristics of a patient mom include:
- Letting our children express their thoughts without interrupting them.
- Not losing our temper so quickly.
- Allowing them to finish chores and activities at their own pace.
Learning to take a deep breath, cool down, and return to the situation will help us work on this critical “good motherhood quality.”
3. Role Model
One of the best qualities of a good mother is teaching by example.
Being a good role model for our children is the best lesson we can ever teach. The “do as I say, not as I do” approach isn’t effective.
Our children will learn much more from what they see us do than from what we tell them to do.
So, every day, we should make a bigger effort to model behaviors and attitudes we want our children to adopt.
Examples of being a good role model include:
- eating healthy
- being kind to others
- exercising
- being honest
These are just a few simple examples of things kids learn by watching us do.
4. Consistent
Consistency isn’t only a good motherhood quality but a necessary one to raise emotionally stable children.
Studies have shown consistency in parenting behaviors has important implications for a kid’s adjustment. From a social learning perspective, predictable responses to our children’s behavior may promote learning, as kids are given consistent expectations about their environment. According to attachment theory, youth may form secure attachments to their parents when parental behavior is consistently responsive to their needs.
To put things into perspective, imagine that your boss was utterly unpredictable. One day, he was lovely; the other day, he was an ogre. How would that impact your behavior around him? Wouldn’t that make you act a bit more guarded when he was around?
The same happens with our children but on a larger scale. We are supposed to be their constant, and when we aren’t, that can create emotional and psychological chaos.
In essence, the more consistent we are in how we interact with our children, discipline them, and set expectations, the more stable they become.
Consistency creates expectancy, which reduces stress, anxiety, and emotional swings.
5. Organized
Okay, let’s face it. Some days are just all over the place, no matter how much we plan for things to go a certain way.
With that said, it isn’t a secret that being organized and having a plan helps us function better.
Kids, work, cooking, cleaning, errands, pets, bills, appointments, home maintenance projects, kid’s sports, fitness… I mean! I’m amazed that we find time to shower these days.
A game plan will help us establish a routine and create a schedule. This will allow us to give our children stability, consistency, and predictability, all of which help reduce anxiety and irritability.
If you need help in this area (and who doesn’t?), I highly recommend you check out the Printable Home Management Binder!
This little gem will help you manage and keep track of every single aspect of motherhood and your home life on a day-to-day basis, including:
- Planner and Calendars
- Personal Goals
- All Things Kids
- Finances
- Medical Record
- Health and Fitness
- Cleaning and Organizing
- Household Projects
- Birthdays and Holidays
- … and Extras!
6. Respectful
When discussing the qualities of a good mother, being respectful is very important.
Because we are their mothers and “gave birth to them” doesn’t give us the right to overstep some boundaries.
It is important to remember that our children are their people, with their personalities, opinions, and limitations.
This is especially important to remember as our kids grow and develop their independence—a.k.a, in their teenage years.
It is our nature as moms to want to do what is best for them, even if it sometimes means stepping over some boundaries.
Examples of being a respectful mom:
Being a respectful mother can mean many things, but here are a few examples that can put this attribute of motherhood into perspective:
- Never yell in your child’s face.
- Treating them (and others) with respect.
- Don’t call them names or use derogatory terms towards them.
- Don’t talk down to your kids.
- Allow them to have a say whenever possible.
- Allow them to express their feelings.
- When reprimanding younger children, kneel to their level and make eye contact.
You get the point. Treat your child with the same respect you expect in return.
7. Supportive and Encouraging
Another essential quality of a good mother is being supportive!
You can look back at your childhood and remember times when your parents were encouraging and supportive. I know I do!
Encouragement is something we all need. It creates a sense of pride and motivates us to push forward and work harder.
Children, in particular, need to hear from their parents that we support them. We stand behind them and will stand by them every step of the way. Behind every supportive mother stands a confident child—make no mistake!
8. Forgiving
Ohhhh….. forgiveness!
This is a tough quality for anyone to master. It takes practice, patience, and humility.
When it comes to our children, forgiveness is crucial to help our children thrive.
Because our children constantly learn and mistakes are bound to happen, it is key to be forgiving and flexible. Perfecting this quality is one of the most valuable things we should hope to obtain—not only as mothers but also as people.
Being quick to anger, holding a grudge, and being slow to forgive are poisonous to ourselves and our children.
By being forgiving mothers, we also model such behavior, thus indirectly instilling it in our children and leading by example.
Another point is that as mothers, we constantly tell our children to ask for forgiveness when they do something wrong. However, we must also remember that this also applies to us.
Forgiving ourselves is just as important as we are by far perfect!
When we forgive (our children or others), we free ourselves and other people.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ; God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32
9. Acknowledges Flaws
Acknowledging your flags is one of the most essential qualities of a good mother.
You see, being a good mother does not mean you are perfect, and our children must understand that.
When we acknowledge our flaws and choose to work on them, we teach our kids that perfection is unattainable. Instead, we should focus on being the best version of ourselves.
10. Flexible
One thing we know about motherhood is that every day is different! And because of that, being flexible is vital to keeping our sanity.
As a checklist lover and to-do list enthusiast freak of nature, I can tell you that flexibility has been a work in progress. I function best with structure and a plan, and God knows that motherhood can be anything but structured or predictable; being a good wife and mother requires adaptability.
It isn’t always about how we think things should be done and how we think things should go. We should always leave room for discussions and change of plans and allow our kids to make decisions.
Flexibility allows us to handle things as they come when they come—which helps us stay sane!
Tips for Improving
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- 15 Productivity Hacks for Busy Moms
- 5 Unexpected Places to Think Clearly for Moms
- 30 Funny and Trendy Mom Shirts (We Can All Relate To!)
- Best Natural Cleaning Products (A Mom’s Guide)
In Summary
So, do you possess all of the qualities of a good mother?
Probably not… and that is fine.
All we can do is aspire to do better and to be better.
One day at a time, one victory, and one mistake at a time. Leaving room for forgiving ourselves when things don’t go as planned and giving ourselves credit when we accomplish something great.
After it is all set and done, loving our children and trying to be the best version of ourselves are the best motherhood qualities we could ever possess.
The rest will find its way.
What should we add to this “qualities of a good mother” list?
Don’t forget to pin this for later…
