Everyone’s breath stinks in the morning!
May 28, 2009 > 14 Comments
Questions and comments I’ve heard a lot recently:
“How do you get it all done?!”
“Your house is always so clean, what is your secret?”
“Your children sit so still and behave so well in church.”
“How do you manage to make so many things from scratch and still have time to prepare meals?”
“You’re so hospitable and entertaining seems to come so easy for you.”
“I could never homeschool. I don’t have the patience like you do.”
My response is usually a laugh and a mumble that I don’t have it all together.
I don’t get it all done. I don’t always have a clean house. And I certainly am not privy to any secrets!
It saddens me that so many moms (including myself) feel defeated by moms who are probably feeling defeat themselves. If we could ever wrap our brains around the fact that no one is perfect, no not even Suzy Q, I think we could squash this nasty lie that we all have on occasion believed.
If my friends and aquaintances could be the proverbial fly on the wall, they would see
1.) That it’s been over a week since I’ve been caught up on the laundry. Thankfully everyone has umpteen pairs of underwear and socks to cleverly hide this fact.
2.) That we had bread and ice-cream for supper tonight because I failed to menu plan…again.
3.) That I just last night cleaned our shower because I was scared the pink/green mold that was growing would kill us all.
4.) That if our children pass the hair smell test we skip baths!
5.) That I slept in til after 8 o’clock this morning and it was 10 o’clock before the children got a good start on their subjects in which I have yet to grade.
6.) That we almost always have to lecture someone on the way home from any church service. “Now, explain to me again what you were doing with your toes during the preaching!?”
7.) That when I am having company over I often have near nervous break-downs intermittently throughout the day in which I repeatedly ask my husband, “Now, who’s idea was this!?”
8.) That I too often leave the dishes from supper until the next morning to give the poor, starving ants something to munch on through the night.
9.) That I frantically search through the children’s closets on Sunday morning for outfits that don’t look like an elephant sat on them because I didn’t prepare and iron the night before.
10.) That it’s been 8 7 6 5 days since I had time to shave my legs. Honestly, when is it going to be in style to just let it all grow out!?
11.) That my husband prepares coffee for our morning and afternoon coffee. I can’t remember the last time I made coffee. Thanks honey!
12.) That in moments of desperation I pop a cartoon in for Baby Girl so we can all get a bit of work done. Admit it…you’ve done it too! {wink wink}
13.) That I failed to blog about my 2 recipe flops that I served to company. Both dishes had to be thrown away lest we risk losing our friendship.
And because I am sure if I were to divulge many more horrid secrets you would never, ever speak to me again, I’ll stop now. But I think you get the idea…
I’m not perfect, you’re not perfect. And while we all need to improve in certain areas of our lives, we need to realize that your family was given to you for a reason. God did not give you my family, He gave you yours.
He gave you your family, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, your faults and shortcomings. You are just what your family needs.
While I may horribly stink at something you excel in chances are my family doesn’t really care. It’s just not going to ruin their day if there are smudges on the back door. But if there are crumbs under their feet they will surely notice and complain, and that’s where my strength comes in.
I know we moms love to talk about how we do what we do, but what works for one mom most certainly will not work for another. What one husband’s demands preferences are may not even register with another.
So while it’s great to read blogs and talk to other women about such things please keep in mind that we all want to be seen in the best possible light and remember:
Every one’s breath stinks in the morning! {smile}
This is one of the wonderful Finer Things in life…to know my family loves me just the way I am, with all my faults & failures.
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Design By Joy 2009
May 28th, 2009 @ 12:58 pm
Thank you for this! I don’t have any kids and barely get all my work done. Most of you “super” bloggers make it seem so easy. Thank you for reminding me that my little family needs me, not you. Great way to start my day!
May 28th, 2009 @ 2:34 pm
Thank you for the reminder that I am who my family needs. As I type this, my 2-1/2 yo is standing behind me with his arms wrapped around my neck cuddling with me and rocking me while making up his own words to “Rock A-Bye Baby” something atune to “rock a-bye Mommy, in my arms… Yes, they love me regardless of the chores that go undone. I am blessed!
May 28th, 2009 @ 3:22 pm
I think I need to go brush my teeth. Sigh what a burden you have lifted from me this morning. Thank you.
May 28th, 2009 @ 4:42 pm
What a great list! How easy it is to compare ourselves to others and come out feeling either proud or depressed. I so agree that we each must do what is best for ourselves and our families based on our own situation and circumstances. Thanks for this refreshing reminder!
May 28th, 2009 @ 4:44 pm
Finally, somebody openly admits to the smell test! How refreshing…it’s so true. I get alot of people asking me some of the same things and you’re so right to caution women not to take all blogs at face value. I mean, I want people to remember me for my lapbooking and nifty projects, not my numerous breakdowns and moments of pure neglect that happen throughout the day so of course I’m gonna blog the positive in my life. Maybe I ought to start confessing a bit…or…maybe not.
May 28th, 2009 @ 8:08 pm
Well said Amanda! I appreciate your honesty. I agree we see what other women accomplish and often feel like failures. I got tickled at your list, LOL. In some circles it is in vogue to skip on shaving…Hey, as long as you wear a long skirt, the only one who will know is your hubby, right? ;o)
May 28th, 2009 @ 8:09 pm
How true! Thank you for sharing this post and reminding me that we are all human and do make mistakes. I sit here with a cluttered desk, grading of reports I need to do, laundry that needs to go in the dryer, etc. I think people should see that we are real and not perfect.
May 29th, 2009 @ 4:44 am
Thanks for posting, I really enjoyed reading your newest post. I think you should post more often, you evidently have talent for blogging!
May 29th, 2009 @ 2:57 pm
Thank you for sharing this. I sometimes get discouraged when I hear or read about other moms who seem to have it all together. I can relate to a lot of your list items!
May 29th, 2009 @ 8:01 pm
It is so good to know that others struggle, too! My house is a complete disaster mess as I type, yet I’m lacking the motivation to get up and do anything about it. There is always tomorrow, right? I’d rather snuggle with my children for now.
May 29th, 2009 @ 8:05 pm
Yay — You are REAL!
Real mommies are the Finest of Things!
May 30th, 2009 @ 3:07 am
You do the hair smell test too!? Yeah! You had already shattered my misconception that you were the PERFECT mom, but thanks for reminding me again. Really, ice cream for dinner? Tsk, tsk… (“I would never!”)
June 4th, 2009 @ 3:08 pm
Great post. I was nodding my head in agreement on most of those! LOL
July 3rd, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
Oh yeah. I needed to read this and be reminded that none of us are perfect.