The other night I was in my car driving to a concert with two other mom friends of mine. We were just chatting about life as new moms, and one of the moms, whose sweet baby boy is only a month younger than Lilly, and I started talking about life as a WORKING new mom.

You see, all three of us, are work-from-home working moms. And I was telling her that I was SO impressed with her. I could see how much she was working! I could see all that she was doing! And she has a two month old!

I know how hard it is for me to get done all that I need to get done. I told her how much she motivated me. How I saw how hard she was working and that motivated me to step my game up. I admitted that there were times where I would see how much she was doing and I would second guess myself – like, am I doing enough? Am I working hard enough?

She turned to me and said, “What? YOU are motivating me! I can’t believe all that YOU are doing! I always wonder how YOU do it.”

That’s when it hit me. I was running myself ragged some days thinking I’m not doing enough. That I’m not good enough. That I’m slacking as a working mother.

But I realized… I AM doing enough. I’m doing exactly what I can. I’m not a slacker of a working mother. And I HAVE to stop comparing myself to other moms.

We ALL have to stop comparing ourselves to other moms. In EVERYTHING we do…comparison is the number one killer of joy. And we have got to stop letting comparison kill our joy.

So, I wanted to write some letters. A few letters to the moms. All the moms.

Moms, these letters are for you.

Dear full-time mom who works out of the home:

You’re doing a great job. You work 40+ hours a week to help support your family. You’re away from your little one(s) during that time. You have to pay for childcare and that’s expensive. You come home, tired from a long day of work, and you still find time to give baths, read stories, and snuggle with your baby. You still find time to spend with your husband. You still find time to do all that you need to do.

You are making a huge sacrifice for your family. I don’t know how you do it, but you do. I know it’s not always easy. And I know that sometimes you might feel like you’re falling short. But you’re doing a great job and you’re a fantastic mom. Don’t ever forget that.

Love, another mom.

Dear full-time stay-at-home mom:

You’re doing a great job. You never have a day off. You don’t get paid. You don’t get vacation. Or sick days. Or comp time. Or workers comp. You spend hours upon hours feeding, bathing, clothing, and playing with your kiddos. You cook dinner. You clean house. You run errands. You fix boo boos. You find pacis. You do it all.

You are making a huge sacrifice for your family. I don’t know how you do it, but you do. I know it’s not always easy. And I know that sometimes you might feel like you’re falling short. But you’re doing a great job and you’re a fantastic mom. Don’t ever forget that.

Love, another mom.

Dear work-from-home mom:

You’re doing a great job. You (somehow) find time to do your work, get done what you need to get done, AND take care of your kiddo(s). You balance it all. Sales calls, conference calls, nap times, play times, video conferences, diaper changes, making dinner, cleaning, and emails. You do it all.

You are making a huge sacrifice for your family. I don’t know how you do it, but you do. I know it’s not always easy. And I know that sometimes you might feel like you’re falling short. But you’re doing a great job and you’re a fantastic mom. Don’t ever forget that.

Love, another (work-from-home) mom.

Dear cloth-diapering mom:

You’re doing a great job. You’re saving money! You’re saving the earth! You’re doing it all! …all the laundry, that is. That’s a lot of laundry you’re doing. But you’re doing a great thing.

You are making a huge sacrifice for your family. You’re doing a great job and you’re a fantastic mom. Don’t ever forget that.

Love, another (cloth diapering) mom.

Dear mom using disposable diapers:

You’re doing a great job. Disposable diapers aren’t cheap! You’re doing it all!

You are making a huge sacrifice for your family. I don’t know how you do it, but you do.You’re doing a great job and you’re a fantastic mom. Don’t ever forget that.

Love, another mom.

Dear breastfeeding mom, formula feeding mom, mom who delayed solids, mom who introduced solids early, mom who buys canned baby food, mom who makes her own baby food:

You’re doing a great job. You’re feeding your child and making sure he/she is growing and is healthy! You’re doing all you can to make sure your sweet little one never has to go to bed hungry.

You are making a huge sacrifice for your family. I don’t know how you do it, but you do. I know it’s not always easy. And I know that sometimes you might feel like you’re falling short. But you’re doing a great job and you’re a fantastic mom. Don’t ever forget that.

Love, another mom.

To the mom who co-sleeps, who has had their baby in his/her crib since night one, to the mom who baby wears, to the mom who doesn’t, to the mom who exercises with her baby, to the mom who can’t find the time or doesn’t have the energy, to the mom who lets their baby watch TV, to the mom who says no TV in the home, to the homeschooling mom, to the public schooling mom, to the private schooling mom, to all the moms who do whatever they need to do or they feel is best for their sweet little ones:

You’re doing a great job. You are making huge sacrifices for your family day in and day out. You’re making decisions that you know are best for you and your family.

I don’t know how you do it, but you do. I know it’s not always easy. And I know that sometimes you might feel like you’re falling short. I know sometimes you feel like you can’t do it all. I know sometimes you’re worn out and exhausted.

But you’re doing a great job and you’re a fantastic mom. Don’t ever forget that.

Love, another mom.

first four images by Kelly Martin Photography.