The Girl in the Red Shoes

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Uncategorized | January 5, 2015

Giving Myself Grace

Yes, my Christmas tree is still up. 
And I’m wearing my husband’s pajamas (already). 
And my house hasn’t been clean since who knows when. 
But I’ve got my planner out, and I’m ready for the new year.

I’ve decided to cut myself some slack and give myself some grace this year. It’s all to easy to let the guilt set in. I didn’t bake Christmas cookies with Hudson, or hide a little elf around our house each day. I didn’t get a perfect (or even a screaming) photo with Santa. We didn’t put every single Christmas decoration out. I didn’t put perfect bows on all of Hudson’s gifts. I haven’t sent out thank you cards. We didn’t get all dressed up for New Year’s Eve. I haven’t blogged. I didn’t take picture perfect photos. 
In reality, I’ve been pregnant, tired, and sick the entire holiday season….and I’m not complaining. I’m thrilled to be expecting baby #2. But with that means I need to let go of all these things that really don’t matter. Hudson had the best Christmas. And so did we. 
(source)
So I’m letting my standards slip a little and focusing on what really matters. Grace, not perfection is my goal for 2015. Want to join me?


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Comments

  1. Ashley @ Words About Waverly says

    January 5, 2015 at 1:58 pm

    Totally joining you!!!!!!!! My thoughts for 2015 are exactly the same, also, is is bad that I didn't even remember sending out thank you cards until I read your post?!! 😉

    Enjoy some relaxation, mama!

  2. Christina @ Still Lucky says

    January 5, 2015 at 2:07 pm

    Yes!! Seriously, no resolutions or goals for me this year. With new babies on the way, who has the time! I hope you do start feeling better soon, that must have been really annoying over the holidays 🙁

  3. Shayna @ The Fancy Yancey says

    January 5, 2015 at 2:23 pm

    Don't fret over the small stuff – I'm learning this all the time & really trying to remember it for when the baby comes along! It will all get done in time though so, no worries momma! Besides… Still enjoying the Christmas tree sounds amazing!!

  4. E Hayes says

    January 5, 2015 at 2:27 pm

    Completely joining you. I'm calling it "regaining balance", but yes, trying to focus on what matters.

  5. Kelly Mock says

    January 5, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    Hope you get to feeling better…btw, our tree is still up too and I am still working on thank you notes…don't feel bad!

  6. Meredith says

    January 5, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    Hope you feel better. I am so joining you on this. I finally got my house some what cleaned since hosting Christmas Eve at my house. My tree is up and 90% of my decor is too but I still have a ways to go!

  7. Jamie Lynn {Cocktails and Carseats} says

    January 5, 2015 at 3:17 pm

    Count me in! This is the year where I'm going to focus more on the people in my life, and less on the other 'stuff'. Love your picture by the way – can't beat a new planner and hanging out by the Christmas tree!

  8. Leah @ Everyday Love says

    January 5, 2015 at 3:56 pm

    Right there with you. I have this print as my iPhone wallpaper. Love it. This is going to be such an amazing year for you! Can't wait to see it all play out xo

  9. VaNessa says

    January 5, 2015 at 4:22 pm

    I am totally down with you! I will be doing a NY Resolutions post – you should check it out! 🙂

    Congrats on baby number 2!

  10. Elizabeth Birenbaum says

    January 5, 2015 at 4:32 pm

    YES YES YES! Totally joining you mama!

  11. Karra says

    January 5, 2015 at 4:36 pm

    amen, mama!! I'm all about this!

  12. Tara says

    January 5, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    YOU ARE WONDERFUL. And yes, totally joining you. The most important thing we can do for ourselves and for our children is to exude kindness and love…I think you have it more than covered!

  13. Jessica says

    January 5, 2015 at 5:21 pm

    Thinking about printing this post out and posting it on my fridge as a reminder to myself to do the same: cut myself some slack and give myself some grace! My holiday season looked much the same as yours. I didn't do a lot of the things that I had hoped to, and it really STRESSED me out. I didn't have the energy I normally do. I felt like I wasn't perfect enough, like nothing was perfect enough. And you know what? It ended up being just perfect anyways. Lesson learned. I will not be making any resolutions this year, but instead, will just be hoping to stay afloat with the new baby on the way and so many things going on. Definitely don't want to stress out more by making goals that may or may not be met:) Thank you for this today, sweet friend. You and I are in the same boat!:)

  14. Jess Scott says

    January 5, 2015 at 6:31 pm

    You are totally speaking my language…I felt like a total mom-failure this past Christmas but am OK with it. Being pregnant with a toddler totally takes it out of you, huh? I feel like if I can be a great mom to Cam and a great wife to Chad then everything else will be fine! Relax and organize…who cares if you cross everything off your list. 😉

  15. Sarita @ it's my girls' world says

    January 5, 2015 at 6:48 pm

    Awesome post!! I was like that the january that I was pregnant with my second! Take it easy 🙂

  16. Tamsen says

    January 5, 2015 at 8:06 pm

    And that's exactly as it should be! It's hard sometimes to give ourselves to change the permission levels but it's so what you do 🙂 I'm sure H and hubs enjoyed every minute of having you present and that's all that counts!

  17. henning love says

    January 5, 2015 at 8:11 pm

    yes love this!! we need to stop putting so much pressure on ourselves to get things perfect or do this and that. enjoy that tree for as long as you want and it doesnt matter when you put it away 🙂

  18. Paige says

    January 5, 2015 at 8:57 pm

    I did the best I could this year with a toddler and a 1 month old…and the picture perfect santa pic didn't happen..still working on thank you notes…and only put out a few decorations. Hope you start feeling better! Happy new year!

  19. Colleen Sullivan says

    January 5, 2015 at 11:03 pm

    I'm so much happier when I don't force myself to meet expectations (set by me!) that I don't really feel like working on 🙂 I'm a go with the flow kind of girl.

  20. Brettni @ Bringing Up Brumfields says

    January 5, 2015 at 11:24 pm

    Yes! Grace, indeed. =)

  21. bev says

    January 5, 2015 at 11:51 pm

    Absolutely give yourself some grace…..your are a wonderful mother and your husband and a sweet little boy adore you. What else attars?

  22. bev says

    January 5, 2015 at 11:53 pm

    GEEEZ "you are"….."what else matters?"
    I too, need some grace!

  23. Illegally Blonde says

    January 6, 2015 at 12:49 am

    Amen. God does not expect perfection and neither should you.

  24. Courtney says

    January 6, 2015 at 2:35 am

    Growing another bambino is more important than anything else!! Don't worry about it 🙂

    I always wear Jim's pj's. Pregnant or no :p

  25. Morgan says

    January 6, 2015 at 1:16 pm

    You are the best momma to Hudson and that, that's all that matters. Rock it and do what you can.

  26. Linda says

    January 6, 2015 at 8:39 pm

    Amen and amen! Happy New Year!

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