Ya’ll. I feel like a post with just the word “ya’ll” and an eye roll emoji would probably be understood by each and every one of you on some level, am I right?! But not to worry, as you can already tell, there is more than “ya’ll.” I have decided that with the changing of the season, it is time to take a step back and take inventory, take a closer look at the inner workings of my everyday life. Ya’ll…
You know those moms that have it all together? You know the ones I am talking about. They have their hair and makeup done in every picture, always posting about the perfect little activities/playdates they had for their kids that afternoon. The ones whose kid(s) never yell in public. The ones whose lives look like they just got plucked right outta the JCREW catalog? Yeah, them. It didn’t take too much inventory to figure out that I am not them. Want a reality check? Here’s a very real look into my life (and what I like to think is normal mom life. If I am wrong, don’t burst my bubble, k? K.). I like to call this “Reality Check Tuesday.”
I haven’t brushed my hair in days. I yelled at my husband in the middle of Lowe’s yesterday about rocks and sand because I was frustrated and just needed to yell at someone about something. Anything. I went grocery shopping a few Friday’s ago and still ordered pizza that night for dinner. Reality Check Tuesday.
I heard my daughter shuffling around in her room after her nap a while back. I went in to find that she had pooped, stuck her hands in her diaper and then rubbed it all over the white rocker in her room. Reality Check Tuesday.
Both of my kids recently started back at play school a few days a week. After dropping them off and witnessing a few moms with tears as they were leaving, I gleefully hopped in my car, popped a wheelie out of the parking lot and went shopping for my Fall wardrobe. (Of course I am kidding…about the wheelie part.) I had grand plans of cleaning and organizing on the days they are in school. I haven’t spent a single one of them at home yet. There are currently 4,521 unread emails in my inbox – no, I am NOT kidding. I am seriously contemplating deleting all of them and starting fresh. Reality Check Tuesday.
I recently started working again, teaching dance one night a week. My son cried the entire time I was gone last week. Go figure. My daughter squealed “Hi Mama” while running to give me a hug after her very first day of play school, even though I left her in a room with several other screaming children who missed their mommies all day. Go figure. And just today, when I was playing with my son, he did something incredibly funny. Through my laughter, I managed to get out, “Oh baby, I love you so much, you funny guy.” And he stopped laughing, smiled and said, “Love you more, Mama.” REALITY. FLIPPING. CHECK. TUESDAY.
My kids don’t care that I haven’t brushed my hair in days or that I kiss them with morning breath every morning. They don’t care that I got frustrated and yelled at their Dad. They don’t care that I bought lots of healthy food and then ordered pizza or happily dropped them off for fun at play school. What they care about (and see) is that I let them wear they outfits they want to wear-even when they don’t match, that they aren’t hungry because we are so blessed to have enough food to eat, that I haven’t cleaned out my inbox in so long because I would rather spend that time playing with them. And that shopping trip I took? All but one of the bags was stuff for them. They see that I love them unconditionally and won’t ever stop or apologize for it. You see, while social media gives us an amazing outlet to share our lives with those we know and love, it puts so much pressure on us to be perfect and fit into society’s mold of what motherhood should look like. My reality is just that. MY reality. And it works for us. So keep it up, Mommas. When it feels overwhelming and less than perfect, know you’re doing a good job. And you aren’t the first to feel that way. Simply take a moment to do a quick inventory and you’ll realize what I have. My kids are happy and healthy, and that’s all that matters. And as long as they keep the “Love you more, Mama” coming, I won’t consider charging them rent…
