Gettin' Real

For the most part, I think my life is pretty transparent. I know some of you don't know me that well (or at all) but if you did, you'd know that my life is an open book. There's not much about my life that I'm unwilling to share....the good, the bad and the ugly....it's part of what makes me me.


A few days ago my sister posted a blog about not having it all together...her life, her mothering skills, her duties as a wife...but yet she felt this urge to appear to have it all together. Does this sound familiar to anyone? It must ring a bell, especially with us moms, because her post got a lot of reaction.


I started wondering what kind of image or pretense I put on for others--intentional or unintentional. Why do we moms feel pressure to be SuperMom? Why do we give in to the snare of comparison? I do it. You do it. We all do it. And I think we need to give each other a break and especially give ourselves a break. Mommyhood is not easy, to say the least. When we embrace that fact, I think we reduce the pressure we feel to make everything seem hunky-dory. To quote one of my husband's favorite lines: it is what it is.


It's time for us to come alongside one another with empathy for the struggles of balancing our jobs as moms, wives, sisters, friends, etc. And in order to do that we have to get real with one another. Let it all hang out....the good, the bad and the ugly. I'm encouraging each one of you to share some of your common struggles or mishaps with motherhood. Share the real you.....that's what I'm doing today. I do not have it all together.


Here are some examples to prove it:

1. I don't wash juice cups or bottles each time they're used. Sometimes I just stick them back in the fridge until the next use.

2. My kids have worn their pajamas in public....sometimes they're matching pj's but sometimes they're not.

3. I forget to brush Emerie's teeth at least once a week.

4. I have re-gifted a gift.

5. I don't get out of bed until Emerie cries for her bottle. Some days it is 8:45 am before she wakes up.

6. Last week, after the 16th request from Landrie to "Watch me, momma." I simply replied, "No, thanks."

7. I talk on the phone while I play with my kids.

8. Many times, I think too much about what I'm wearing.

9. I will let clothes sit in the dryer for several days before folding them.

10. I have a hard time paying a compliment to family members.

11. I am hyper-critical of others.

12. Sometimes, the only thing that gets me through the week is my one day of Mother's Day Out.

13. Sometimes, the only thing that gets me through the day is nap time.

14. I spend too much money.

15. I'm not faithful to my quiet times.

16. I let my kids watch too much tv.

17. I won't cook certain recipes because it requires too many pots and pans-- which means more clean up for me afterwards.

18. I don't wash my pillow cases often because I only have one set that feels "soft enough."

19. The inside of my car is a total disaster. But the inside of my house is immaculate.

20. The reason my house is immaculate is because I spend more time picking up and straightening things than playing with my girls.


So there you have it. I don't share these things with you to create a pity party for myself. And I hope you aren't challenged to share things with me or others that make you feel terrible about yourself. I hope I've encouraged us, as women and mothers, to stop pretending. It isn't healthy. But what is healthy and cathartic is extending grace, empathy and mercy to each other. To come alongside one another and say "Me, too" or "I know exactly how you feel." Empathy unifies, and us mommies need unity to get through each day!


So fill me in....what are some "real" things about your life?