Embracing the Lack of Mama Perfection
The other day I found the perfect cookie recipe on Pinterest. In my mind I could just see it - I was going to prepare these cookies in my picture perfect kitchen. My two year old son, Caleb, would look totally adorable as he stirred the cookie dough, licking a little bit of batter off the wooden spoon. We'd put the perfectly shaped pods of dough in the oven and, ten minutes later, out would pop the picture perfect cookies that Caleb and I would let cool until daddy got home and we all shared the treats together.
As I'm sure you can imagine, none of that occurred... Caleb didn't nap well so throughout our "fun" activity he was a grouch, cookie batter was smeared all over my non-picture perfect - wood paneling and old laminate flooring - kitchen, my toddler didn't want the dough going in the oven and DEFINITELY didn't want to wait until his daddy got home to stuff his face with oddly shaped, partially burnt cookies.
Why on earth do I continue, time after time, to put pressure on myself to have life look like the perfect blog post or the perfect instagram picture? Sure, one moment can look that perfect but, behind that one moment there are 972 other moments that are messy, stressful, or downright frustrating. I've learned that they're made much more stressful and frustrating by desiring perfection.
We've heard it again and again but I'm going to repeat it, perfection isn't real and definitely isn't possible!
What are we supposed to do then? Sometimes it seems as though the only answer for us mamas is to give up. Stop trying. Let go of the impossible. Keep our sweatpants on all day and buy cookies from the grocery store.
It would be so easy. Let it all go. Just stop caring.
Then I look at my little boy. He sits in the mess of a kitchen. He's covered in cookie batter. He's throwing around egg shells like they're balls and has dropped a few raw eggs on the floor, assuming they would bounce. He's has the biggest smile on his face.
There's nothing about my picture perfect desire that he cares about. All he cares about is that his mama took time out of her day to bake cookies. He cares that his mama comforted him while he sat crying over the fact that the cookies had been put in the oven - not understanding that they were put in the oven to bake. He cares that he got to lick the batter off the spoon and that he got to try to crack the eggs - even though he failed at it and got egg everywhere.
He doesn't need perfection but he doesn't need his mama to give up either.
What my little man needs - what your little one needs - is a mama who cares, a mama who spends time with him, a mama who finds joy in the simple moments.
Let's all join hands and forget about the pressure we feel. Let's all strive to grab hold of the simple moments and find the beauty and importance in each of them.
Susannah is an atypical pastor's wife in the Pacific Northwest. She spends her days at home with her two year old son, helping out at church, spending time with friends and women throughout the community, and growing her second child "in her belly" (as she explains it to her toddler). Her blog, Simple Moments Stick, is her creative outlet, her "me time", and her ministry. She is passionate about the Grace of Jesus and sharing that Grace with all she comes in contact with!
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"The waiting seemed unbearable, as my friends and family members and acquaintances and everyone in the world (it seemed) grew round with expectation. I remained flat, or rather, soft with my belly only protruding from the burrito I just ate."
Hop over to Simple Moments Stick to read more of my post, The Privilege of MamaHood.
