Getting past perfect : how to find joy and grace in the messiness of motherhood
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references (pages 137-139).

If you have ever felt that you were not enough as a wife or mom, or if you're someone who struggles to do it all, Getting Past Perfect offers a realistic and reassuring portrait of Catholic womanhood, placing motherhood in the context of every woman's primary role as a child of God. Kate Wicker -- journalist, popular speaker, and author -- shares how she shook off doubt and negative self-perception, finding self-acceptance as a mom, and the desire to stop controlling everyone around her. This book invites you to make this same journey as you learn to embrace the primacy of your role as a daughter of God, even amidst the daily chaos of raising children. Each chapter is designed to debunk the lies and expectations that moms often face, replacing negative self-perceptions with the truths of a woman's true calling. Wicker, a recovering perfectionist, helps you realize: It is perfectly normal to feel like you're in over your head sometimes. You can stop obsessing about what other people think and start focusing on loving yourself and your kids just as you are. Your primary jobs are to let God love you and to love him back. Nurture your prayer life and make time to remember that you are first a daughter of God. It's important to practice self-care no matter your stage in life. Wicker openly shares how she unwittingly transferred her preoccupation with having the perfect body to being the perfect parent. By honestly sharing her mistakes and triumphs in the trenches of motherhood, Wicker reveals several common falsehoods mothers tell themselves in different seasons of their lives and how speaking the truth can liberate women to become better parents and the truest versions of themselves. Whether you're dealing with endless "why?" questions, unexpected potty emergencies, or even the unanticipated change of a new pregnancy, Getting Past Perfect will help you learn how to lean into God's abiding grace.