Bringing back one of my fave blog posts to share with my new friends 
Let me know what you think!
I look around and there are so many moms that seem to have it all together. Their houses are clean, their kids are clean, they never lose their tempers or forget to put on make-up. They make up delicious recipes to serve their families every night of the week. And, of course, they eat at the kitchen table. Wow! They are so very balanced….or is it an act?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they are lying. But, do they really have it all together? Or are they just skilled at painting a pretty picture?
I wonder if I look like this from the outside? LOL, probably not! But, I’m sure that the way I seem as a mom and the reality are definitely at odds.
For example, today Aiden and I slept in. On a Tuesday–for no real reason other than we could. I won’t say what time it was when we got out of bed- but lets just say that we didn’t make breakfast, and our first meal probably didn’t even qualify as “brunch”. I’ve run around all morning trying to make it look like I’ve actually been up since 7:30. I’ve cleaned my house, dressed my little toot and even got dressed myself (minus the make-up). If you walked in now to see a clean house with me “working” away on my laptop and my little man riding his motorcycle around the house…you would think we were balanced. And I would let you think that.
Of course I want you to think I’m a great wife and mother, a dedicated housekeeper and that I am making a mental list of ingredients for a new recipe (one that I came up with on my own, of course!) in my head right now. But, that’s not the reality.
The reality is this:
- I stay up too late, and therefore sleep too late.
- I speed-clean more than I deep clean.
- Sometimes we eat Sloppy Joe’s for dinner.
- Sometimes we don’t get dressed until after noon.
- My son watches too much Nick Jr. most days.
- Sometimes I have really bad days and even lose my patience with my precious little man.
I’m not perfect.
The reality is this. I am balanced. It’s not an act. I am a perfect mix of perfection and flaw. To my husband, I am the wife he needs to balance him. He doesn’t mind Hamburger Helper now and then, because we are balanced where it is important. We stand together, face a disease with no answers, protect our son as best we can and love and respect each other no matter what. Our son is happy, silly, smart and beautiful. To him, I am Mommy. Is there any greater honor than that?
I don’t need to win admiration from my fellow moms and I don’t care if you are appalled at my lack of schedule and gourmet menu selection.
This is my life. Beautiful, chaotic, blessed, cursed, balanced or not… this is no act. This is my life.
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We are alike!! Today is Jammie day over here!! But I’m actually “cooking” dinner– by that I mean crockpot pork chops with boxed mac n cheese and applesause
I’m a believer in the life you just described. It’s real, natural, and perfectly imperfect. A beautiful thing, cherish it with all your heart.
I love this. Your life sounds perfect to me. You know why? You know what’s important. It’s NOT important what others think. It’s NOT important to come up with your own receipies and be The Perfect (Insert role here). It’s VERY important to spend precious time with our kids while we have them each and every day, it’s VERY important to be able to know that you are loved by your family and friends, and they know that you love them as well.
Your priorities are just right, in my opinion. You sound like someone I would be friends with
I can assure you that I sleep in everyday as late as my kids will let me (which is never late enough), I run around and clean like a mad woman whenever someone comes over, so I appear to be a good housekeeper…but I’m really not, my kids watch their fair share of PBS Sprout and I try very hard to make each meal last for two dinners so I only cook every other day…some days I wish my house was tidier or I didn’t look so frazzled all the time…but this is me and I try to be happy with that! And I’m so glad there are other moms out there like me
Amen! I am with you sister…Nick Jr, Sloppy Joes and speed cleaning all the way! lol
Great honesty. I am sure this is how you survive along with God’s help. The article is good. Proud to know you guys. Hang in there. God’s grace will shine through.
If it makes you feel any better, I served leftovers tonight. And the only reason my house is as clean as it is right now is because I do the morning #speedclean on Twitter. I also stay up too late and this is why I now have a violent love affair with my coffee.
Oh and I only VERY rarely wear make-up and there are far too many mornings where Alton has seen the entire Playhouse Disney Line-up.
[...] Toot, I write and reflect on raising a toddler with a rare kidney disorder…and doing it with sass. I am a firm believer that God is in control. I don’t always understand His ways, but I try [...]
This is beautiful. I LOVE this.
Hallee
Beautiful! I agree, no one is perfect, but you balance the good with the bad
I so wish I was one of those moms who seem to have it all together, but I am not so we are very alike my friend. This was so interesting to read and so similiar to my story
Leading the life that you love, is what it’s all about! You are a trooper, doing a lot and keeping it all together………You represent many Moms in this world!
Dear you put this so beautifully – we all deal with balancing acts in different areas of our lives!
You sound so happy! You’re at a place where we all strive to be! Thank you for sharing and giving us hope that we can achieve! It will look different for each of us, but we can all master the balancing act!
Visiting from SITS, just getting around to Day 3.
I don’t have to together but my house is fairly clean and we eat dinner together every night. I started Freezer Cooking to save time and energy.
What’s wrong with a Sloppy Joes? My kids think I’m the best mom ever if I serve that
I take pride in not being perfect!
Following you from the #31DBBB challenge!
Hi Christy- I can definitely relate with this one: “I stay up too late, and therefore sleep too late.”
I have often found that because I work full time and run a business part time, sleep is secondary! Thank God for weekends!
Michelle
Some of my best friends are those moms with tidy houses, well behaved & clean children, and creative dinners on the table every night. It’s funny to hear them say they think I’ve got it together! Guess we’ve all got each other fooled.
Isn’t it great that it’s enough to have a tidy house *some* of the time, that the kids are clean enough, and we have creative dinners when we can? The frequency and focus of each varies for each family; I think families are more unique than snowflakes. Your family certainly seems to be having a lovely time, and what could be more important than that.
You left a sweet note on my Day1 Elevator Pitch post. Thank you!
I far from have it put together — as a single mom of 3 (11, 9, 7), one with ASD, I lucky to get to work each day. My house is just awful and we eat out way too much. Yet I hear from way too many people that I have it under control. Either they really think I do or they say that so they don’t have to offer to help.
Oh girl, I about 110% sure that you are a real-world mommy like me!
It sounds like you have it pretty together to me. Who cares that you sleep in sometimes and that you have quick and easy meals sometimes… or even most of the time. You did clean the house and you cared for and enjoyed your family, too. I don’t think it’s an act at all. Sure, some moms get up earlier, clean deeper and cook healthier. But that’s their thing. I say, find the joy in being yourself because YOU are the best mom for YOUR child and the best wife for YOUR husband. No one can do YOU like YOU can… besides type A is not for everyone. P.S. I found you through the 31DBBB.