What makes you a good mom?

I’m a good mom.

I don’t say this to brag, nor do I say it sarcastically because it is a statement I take very seriously.

I say it because I think mothers in general shortchange themselves too often. We shrug off compliments and often discuss our shortcomings far more than we do our strengths. I know I am often guilty of this.

Perhaps it’s because we confuse perfection with being a good mother. Of all the many mothers I know, none are perfect. But all of them are good moms. Some are good homemakers, others are good friends to their children and others are good disciplinarians. They may not be good at everything, but they are all good at something, and their children benefit from it.

So today I’m going to talk about what I think are my strengths as a mother, even though it feels incredibly awkward to focus on my highlights without also mentioning my shortcomings. So I expect you guys to help me out and also write in with your own list of qualities that make you a good mom.

For you husbands out there, big brownie points if you tell us what makes your wife such a good mom. (Oh, don’t forget to leave the comment page open on your wife’s computer later tonight to redeem your full points).

OK, so here goes. I think I’m a good mom because:

1. I enjoy my daughter — I never knew I could have so much fun with a 3-year-old. I make it a point to really enjoy my time with her instead of looking at it as a drudgery or filling time. We do fun things. We laugh. We love each other, of course, but we also like being together.

2. I am consistent with discipline — I have to say that I owe a lot on this one to my husband, who is about the most even and consistent person you’ll ever meet. I also owe a lot to a great parenting philosophy espoused by “Love and Logic.” Still, I give myself credit for being consistent enough in my discipline with my daughter that when she ripped a toy out of her cousin’s hand earlier this week, she look up at me and said, “Oh, I need a time out.”

3. My daughter feels loved. There is no doubt in my mind that my daughter knows how much I love her. If there was any room for doubt, it would have been squashed last night when we were going to bed and she announced that I was her best friend and that no one loves her more than I do. Mission accomplished!

Now it’s your turn! Tell us what makes you, your wife or another woman you admire a good mom.