I was going to write a post about the sourdough bread I made this week. And I probably still will, some time.
But I know that there's a tendency in the blog universe for women to look at each other's blogs and say, "Wow, she homeschools, she makes her own bread, she reads a lot, she does genealogy, she grows vegetables...I could never do all that. What's wrong with me?"
So before I write that bread post, I just want to say: there's nothing wrong with you. Or, if there is, there's just as much wrong with me. None of us is perfect, right? And I want to point out a few things that I should do, but I don't, and it seems like every other mother in the world does.
I don't...
- clean my house very often or very well. I'm serious. If the laundry gets done and we have enough dishes to eat off of, that's a good day for me. I'm trying to get back into some FlyLady routines, and they've helped a little, so we'll see how that goes.
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| This is what my kitchen table looks like almost all the time. Except for when we know someone is coming over. |
- take amazing photographs. (See evidence above.) I wish I did, but I don't have the time or inclination to learn. Once in awhile, one will show up on my camera by accident. Isaac insists that those are the ones he takes.
- get out much. We have one car, and Isaac takes it to work. He does some of the errands, and I do the rest on Saturdays. The Boy and I do get out to see friends sometimes, but we don't go out every day.
- have more than one child. This is not by choice, but there it is. Maybe someday.
I'm not trying to throw a pity party or anything. I'm okay with where I am. But if you find yourself thinking I've got it all together, don't worry--I don't, and I probably never will.
If you do want to homeschool, or make bread, or find good books to read, or whatever, and you think I could help you with that, then feel free to ask! I'm happy to help. Just don't ask me anything about cleaning. Or sports. I'm really bad at sports.
We all have our lists! So by all means, give me that sourdough recipe!
ReplyDeleteGood post. I take decent pictures. I keep a semi tidy house. I handle a passle of kids without being horribly overwhelmed. But, I absolutely don't ever manage to hang anything on my walls or decorate at all. I rarely take my kids off to museums and zoos and other fun outings of that nature. A craft or creative pinterest idea occurs about once a year around here. I have zero musical talent. And . . . I can't sew :)
ReplyDeleteBut what this made me think, besides reminding me not to feel blue when I see others strengths and not to think they have ONLY strengths, but it also reminds me to feel happy about the strengths others do have -- to cheer them on and be glad that there are differences. That we aren't all the exact same doing well at the exact same things. It reminds me of the whole Corinthians scriptures about us all being one body in Christ but with many members (however it goes).
I think we don't often enough or easily enough understand how amazing "average" or "normal" really is. And how "normal" or "average" those we find amazing are.
ReplyDeleteI'll just continue to be amazed and impressed, and you can continue to be normal and average. I think we're both right.