How Pinterest Made Me A Better Mom

Everybody has a snide comment about pinterest these days. It's no secret, I like it. But mostly because I am a doer, not just a random pinner. I like the freedom to try new things, within the confines of an idea that actually worked for somebody.

For the past several years I have been really stuck with a baby on my hip and every Christmas season just seems to get away from me. I think of all the decorating I'd love to do, or the new recipes I would like to try, but life always gets in my way. This year has been such an amazing opportunity at growth as all of my babies have become slightly more independent. It has given me the motivation to try new things, especially pinteresty things.

Because my parents were both in music ministry, growing up my Christmases were spent watching a lot of rehearsals and any real time we spent baking was mostly rolling out pre-made nestle tollhouse dough from the store. I really didn't know how to make anything from scratch and, quite frankly, was terrified at the notion. When I entered motherhood, I was determined to at least TRY to do brave things and so, after I moved into my new house with a new fabulous kitchen, I held my breath and took the plunge into the unknown.

Thank sweet baby Jesus for Pinterest. The recipes on the back of the chocolate chip cookies you buy are nothing, NOTHING compared to the amazing recipes and step-by-step blogs I found on Pinterest. Armed with my laptop on the counter and my ingredients, I set to work.

After 2 days I had baked hundreds of cookies and had even tried my hand at making homemade hot chocolate. I have to say, even I was amazed that I had transformed into THAT mom.

I know that there will be a thousand things my kids remember about my faults, and my weaknesses as a mother. But I hope that one day they can look back and also see that I did manage to bake a mean chocolate chip cookie.

But I digress. I've heard a lot of negative comments about Pinterest lately. How it's a waste of time, an addiction, or a fantasy world. And maybe that is true for some people. But for me, I have to say that Pinterest has made me a better mom. It's given me the motivation and confidence to try new things and step out of my comfort zone, all the while providing easy, step-by-step instructions and the feeling of accomplishment as I step out of the kitchen. So thanks Pinterest, you saved my kid's Christmas!