10 Things Moms Think About the Most on Any Given Day

On any given day, we moms cycle through about a million and one different thoughts. Are we doing a good job? Are we raising kind kids? Did we turn the oven off? Here’s just a small peek into some of the many things moms think about the most. Tell me if you can relate!

Things Moms Think About the Most

From questioning our parenting skills to wondering where all of the forks went, a day in the life of a mom’s mind runs the gamut from deep (and sometimes heart-wrenching) thoughts to the mundane and silly. Here are just a few things moms think about the most.

One little note before we start, though, because more than a few of you have brought it up in the past. I know that dads think these things, too. I’m not trying to leave fathers out or imply that they aren’t as involved in their kids’ lives in “mom-centric” posts like this. Dads matter just as much as moms. It’s just that they say, “write what you know,” and if there’s one thing I know, it’s motherhood.

"No one works harder than a mother. No one loves harder than a mother. No one can replace my mother!" — “No one works harder than a mother. No one loves harder than a mother. No one can replace my mother!”

1. Am I a good mom?

I think this is the one universal thing that all moms think about. We all want to be the best mothers to our children. Some days, we feel like we’re hitting all of the high notes. Others, not so much.

As the quote below says, though, being a good mom isn’t about always having it all together and having all of the answers. It’s about being there for your kids, day in and day out, doing the very best you can.

quote about being a good mom — ‘Being a good mom isn’t about having it all together. All moms struggle. No one has all the answers. Being a good mom is about showing up and never stop trying to do the best you know how for your kids.’

2. Am I enough of a mom for them?

Forget being a good mom, some days we worry if we’re even enough of a mom for them. In other words, are we doing enough for them? Are we neglecting them in some fundamental way by not playing Candyland for the 75^th time? Are we damaging them by working outside the home? Giving them a bad role model by NOT working outside the home?

It’s not uncommon to feel like you’re coming up short somewhere. Mom guilt can be crushing, I know. I promise, whatever you do or don’t do, as long as it’s done with love, you ARE enough.

things all moms think quote — ‘It’s ok to have strengths and weaknesses as a mama. Some mamas play games, others listen well, some cook with love, and others are great encouragers. We don’t have to be everything, every day to our kids. We just need to show up and love them hard.’

3. What kind of future am I giving them?

We start worrying about our kids’ futures before they’re even out of the womb. Sometimes I worry about their specific futures. Will they succeed in life? Am I doing enough to raise kind and compassionate kids? To ensure that they live long, happy and healthy lives?

Other times, I worry on a grander scale about the future of all humankind. Will my grandchildren be okay? Am I doing enough to protect the planet for their children and their children’s children? Will there even be a planet? What if the moon falls and crashes into us? Could the moon fall? Hold on while I look that up. Oh, thank goodness, if I’m reading this right, it seems unlikely. Phew!

As you can see, you can literally drive yourself bonkers worrying about the future. I’m not saying don’t think about it, but actively try to stop obsessing over things you can’t control.

“Behind every great kid is a mom who’s pretty sure she’s screwing it all up.”

4. Will my kids ever get along, or at least ACT like they like each other?

If you’re raising more than one child, at some point in their lives they are going to fight. Some days, it seems like that’s all they do! You’ll find yourself wondering if they’ll ever really like each other. Heck, you’ll settle for them at least pretending that they do.

I can’t promise that at some point they’ll start getting along and become besties. I can promise you, though, that despite appearances they do actually love each other very much. They tease each other mercilessly, but they’ll stand up against anyone else who tries it. They can’t agree on what movie to watch, but they sure make a great team when they’re trying to get you to let them stay up late to watch it!

If you’re still worried that they’ll never get along, check out these ways to teach your kids to be friends for life.

"Getting along with siblings isn't about not having disagreements; it's about learning how to resolve them respectfully." — “Getting along with siblings isn’t about not having disagreements; it’s about learning how to resolve them respectfully.”

5. Will my “one-and-only” child be okay?

I have a good friend who’s raising an only child, and she worries a lot. It doesn’t help that “well-meaning” people constantly make comments about it. “He won’t have anyone when you’re gone,” they say. “He’ll never learn how to share!” Some even question whether she really loves her child. After all, if she did, wouldn’t she want to have more?

Actually, she did want more, but her body had other plans, which makes those comments even more hurtful. It doesn’t matter, though. Whether you’re raising one or one hundred kids, as long as you love them and give them the best life possible, they’ll be just fine. But let’s go back to those “well-meaning” comments for a moment and talk about the next thing all moms think about.

"An only child is a natural leader; from a young age, they're used to being in the company of adults and making their voices heard." — “An only child is a natural leader; from a young age, they’re used to being in the company of adults and making their voices heard.”

6. Mind your own business and stop telling me how to raise my kids.

There’s a great quote that really sums this one up. I’m not sure who originally said it, but it goes, “‘It doesn’t matter if you are a working mom or stay-at-home mom, you breast feed your baby or bottle feed…someone will always be willing to criticize you for your parenting choices. What matters is you just do what is best for you and your family.”

Every single day in both big and small ways, someone out there will tell you that you’re doing this whole parenting thing wrong. So, it makes sense that, “Mind your own business!” is one of the things moms think about the most often.

Unfortunately, the people who need to mind their own business the most never actually will. If you’re up for a cage match, by all means, step into the ring and let them have it. Who has energy for that, though right? Most days, I just smile, nod, say “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind,” and move on. Just be the mom you want to be and don’t worry about what anyone else says.

7. If science can put people in space, why the heck can’t they make broccoli taste like cake?

We can go to outer space in something that’s basically a tin can. We can explore the deepest depths of the ocean. We can even make robots that think like people. So why can’t we figure out a way to make healthy food taste more like dessert?

Of course, if we did figure out how to make broccoli taste like cake, our picky kids would probably decide they don’t like cake after all. Parenthood is like 9 parts “you just can’t win,” after all.

8. Where the heck are all of the forks???

I asked a friend, “what’s one thought that runs through your head every day,” and this was the first thing she thought of. Whenever her teen son eats something in his room, the forks never seem to come back. Even after a thorough cleaning, they’re still missing. “It’s like there’s a black hole in there that only sucks in silverware,” she says.

Maybe your forks are all right where they’re supposed to be, but I bet you can think of at least one thing to replace it with. Mysterious vanishing socks, perhaps?

"Forks, spoons, socks, remote controls—turns out, you don't need a dog to bury treasures all around the house, just a teenager." — “Forks, spoons, socks, remote controls—turns out, you don’t need a dog to bury treasures all around the house, just a teenager.”

9. Motherhood is a crazy ride!

There’s a great quote from Sara Blakely that says it all. She said, “This struggle is real. The juggle is real. That’s why everyone should hire working mothers. They are put in crazy situations all the time and are forced to problem-solve. They are some of my most resourceful employees.”

Motherhood really is a wild and crazy ride filled with the weirdest twists and turns imaginable. One minute we’re making breakfast for our kids and the next we’re looking up how to get syrup off the ceiling. Five minutes later, we’re searching for an answer to our son’s question about how much the earth weighs (about 13 septillion pounds, give or take a few sextillions if you’re curious).

10. Look at those sweet little faces! My kids are such angels. Motherhood is the best!

Everyone is different and I wouldn’t dare assume that I speak for all momkind here. Being a parent isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s a real struggle. Other times (many times, actually) it’s downright weird. But there’s one thing I think we can all agree on no matter what we moms think about the most during the day. As we kiss our children goodnight and look at their angelic little faces as they drift off to sleep, there’s one last thought that runs through our heads. Motherhood is the best, and we wouldn’t change a thing.