But then I got home and found my three children on their stomachs with the yardstick trying to retrieve Peyton's cellphone from under the stove. Well, pieces of it, anyway. It seems a certain three year old threw it and it broke apart and bounced under there. And that was the moment I realized that maybe, in the interest of fairness, I should share some of the reality that is our life.
Why would I want to do that? Well, in reading through my blog, I sometimes worry that maybe I am sharing only the positive things in our lives. Granted, that is easy because about ninety-five percent of our life is positive, but I don't want to come across as THAT girl. You know the one...the perfect wife and mother, with the perfect home and perfect children. The one that makes your teeth hurt because she is so sweet. Come on, admit it, you know her! I know her. I strive to be her. But honestly, she doesn't exist. And I don't want to give anyone the impression that I am her.
Contrary to what a couple of my sisters think...I am not perfect. They like to tell people to be careful when they look at me because the brightness from my halo could burn your eyes. But seriously, I am not perfect. So here are a few things I would like to share with you to prove that I am indeed human, and my family is as well.
My kids fight. Not a lot, but they do. Except for Rhett. I am not lying when I tell you he has never been in time out. Never.
We watch television. A lot. No apologies. I like it, and so do they.
Flynn is three and she is not potty trained. That's all I have to say about that.
We eat sweets. Probably every day.
My prayer life is sorely lacking. Like for real.
I sometimes check the caller ID and don't answer the phone. And tell my kids not to either.
And lastly, I sometimes don't put Flynn in time out because I am just too tired. Don't tell Supernanny.
Ok, now that we have that all cleared up, please excuse me while I go check on the rack of lamb and baby potatoes I am roasting for dinner. I still need to polish the silverware and iron my apron too. ; )
Oh, and I was happy to see the three of them working together to fix the phone. And they did! Crisis averted!
Now this is some good reading material:) Honestly, I love when bloggers are honest and give a little sneak peek inside their seemingly perfect worlds. I feel less intimidated and less pressure to only show my halo. lol.
ReplyDeleteHere's a couple of my for reals:
-my big kids were both over 3 yrs old when they were potty trained
-I am not a big fan of breastfeeding and would much rather pump and that works best for me
-I measure myself up to other beautiful, flawless moms/women and pretty much always fall short
-my prayer life was sorely lacking until recently when I kicked myself in the butt and got back on track
Now it's off to my fridge to find leftovers for supper because I just didn't get around to making anything else. That's how we roll.
Thanks again for the honesty, Billie Jo.
OK, I loved this whole post, but I laughed outloud with that caller ID thing...I do the same thing!!!
ReplyDeleteMy girls always run to the phone, as I say, Don't answer it, I don't want to talk to anyone. NO offense, but talking takes time. Time I usually don't have. If it's important, they will leave a message! Right?
My friend (who I finally answered the phone to today) and I were talking about blogs and the perfect ones and how we women compare ourselves constantly with everything. If I posted a picture of our dirty floors and commented on that, some one, would think to themselves that they love and wish they had white tile floors. I like the keeping it real blogs best. We need that.
Like now, I should be either folding clothes or making supper...but I'm checking blogs "quick"!
God bless you Billie Jo--glad I found you!
Such a wonderful post! When I was first married, I really wanted to be the perfect wife. Then I would mess up. Maybe i would be too snippy. Or fail at being a good hostess. I was hard on myself. Then I became a mom and suddenly my expectations for myself rose even higher. It was awful. I finally realized that I was never, ever going to be the perfect mom I imagined. It took a long time to deal with that. To let myself be happy with imperfection. (I must be okay with it now because my kitchen is a mess after cooking dinner and here I sit typing on the computer!) I have grown to appreciate people who are real. People who are doing the best they can and being content with that. I guess what I'm trying to say is this post just makes me like you even more! :) You are a wonderful lady and a great mom and I am very happy to know you!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Everyone knows the mom in those pictures sneaks vodka in her coffee mug all day ;-)
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your truths, but you're still practically perfect in every way!
I think we all strive to "be her" at times, whether or not we admit it!
ReplyDeleteLoved this!! I think we were separated at birth. Seriously. Thanks for the smiles. And don't worry. We still love you.
ReplyDeleteLove this! Last year when I started my blog I tried to only show nice sometimes "stage" pictures of my family. Then I realized that was not my family, house or life.
ReplyDeleteYes we watch a lot of TV, do not not always answer the phone, my kids fight and many nights after the kids are in bed I go in and tell them that I am sorry I was the mean mom that day. It is life!
I find it funny how you posted this today. I wanted to post something tomorrow but am just tired and not feeling like the best mom. I had thought about posting my feeling on my blog.
I sure do wish we lived closer!
favorite post ever!!!:) and i just have to say...you are quite funny!:) keep these comin. i think it's good for us all to read about people who really are just like us. it makes the good even better in my book!:)
ReplyDeleteand i agree with you...i'd be quite proud that they worked together to rescue the phone too:)
have a happy day billie jo
PS
love the march look around here.
new header and blog look??? seriously over due at my place:)
ha ha ha! I have to laugh when people tell me they can't homeschool because they lack patience. Patience. What's that??!! Or like breakfast is a dinner. I was told by a couple of friends that they could "never" do that to their husbands. Really??!! I was thinking of my husband by thinking of the food budget. Meat is so expensive these days. He's the one working hard to bring home the bacon...but I can't afford the bacon all the time. We had French toast last night. Life is life. How we tackle the small things, one thing at a time, is what is important. :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite one? "I sometimes check the called id and don't answer the phone and tell my kids not to too." I'm so guilty of that especially if it's someone that wants to add a date to my already too full calendar or wants to complicate my life a bit or just talks too long. I soooooo don't pick up.
ReplyDeleteGreat post idea... although guess what? I still think you're pretty perfect! :)
~tara
Girl, you are on it!!!
ReplyDeleteI think we all agree that we LOVE caller i.d.!!! Now, if our little ones would JUST get the hang of not answering it!!! :)
I have been torn...torn I tell ya...over the prompting of the Holy Spirit to be "real" on my blog. I have some big skeletons in the closet and they keep falling all over themselves to get out. Your post last night was the final God-moment to write what I've been needing to say.
Blessings Friend!
Val
Haha, this cracked me up! So fun to read. And if that's the worst of your real world... oh gosh, can't imagine what you'd think of me! ;)
ReplyDelete