Dear Time Magazine,

I don’t care about the picture of the woman breastfeeding the older child. That is not my kid, they aren’t my boobs. I don’t care about that image.  But seriously,  back up off me, Time Magazine.

The thing that pissed me off is the words “Are You Mom Enough” plastered on the cover, next to  what I can only assume was intended to be a provocative breastfeeding photo. “Enough” is a derogatory word when it follows the phrase “are you mom….” It implies judgement, it implies failure and it falsely implies that if you don’t look like that, parent like that, and god-forbid appear on magazine covers like that then you’re failing at more than parenting, but you’re failing at MOTHERHOOD. Total Bullshit.

But, FYI, The answer is yes. I am ‘mom enough’.

I love my kids. I adore them. Sure, some days they send me beyond insane, and I find myself locking myself in the bathroom while they both bang on the door wanting me for just one more game, one more cuddle or one more hair pull before I finally get to pee, but dammit, I love them. Every decision I make for them or with them is based on that love for them, the need to nurture them, care for them, encourage them and help them to live their best lives. EVERY DECISION as a whole. Parenting isn’t one facet. It’s not just the breastfeeding, the polite manners, the respecting their belongings. It’s everything, all rolled into one.

I set my own expectations of what I need to be doing to be enough for my kids. I am my own worst critic (mothers usually are) and I have high expectations of myself. Consequently I have high expectations of others, including my children.

I am Mum enough.

The only aspirations I have to live up to are my own. And the only people who get an opinion are the ones I’m employed by. My kids.