The Girl in the Red Shoes

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Uncategorized | June 3, 2013

Honestly…..

Motherhood is a constant balancing act. It has forced me to learn new skills. Skills such as how to curl your hair while holding a baby. How to cook dinner while holding a baby. Basically how to do pretty much anything  while holding a 22 pound baby that is either pulling your hair, biting your face, choking you with your own necklace, or all of the above. 
It’s tough. I knew going in to this that it would be tough. Here’s something you need to know about me: I don’t often fly my control freak flag, but it’s always there. Being a mother is hard on a closeted control freak like myself. You have to learn to let things go. And let me tell you….it’s tough. 
A very important little person has taken over my life. And is constantly teaching me to be okay with the mess. 
He’s forcing me to recognize that I can’t do it all. 
My house is in desperate need of vacuuming.
My garage is dirty. 
My shower needs to be scrubbed. 
I can’t remember the last time I changed the sheets on our bed. 
I haven’t made dinner in a long time.
But it’s worth it. I don’t want you to think it’s all sunshine and daisies around here. It’s messy, and exhausting, and overwhelming. But I’m learning to let that all go. Because buried under all those dirty clothes, dirty dishes, and mess is something amazing.  And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Plus, trips to Target help make it all better.


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Comments

  1. Classy Fab Sarah says

    June 3, 2013 at 1:02 pm

    I can't even handle his blue shoes!! SO PRECIOUS!

    And I like how you have a dirty garage on your "to do" list… my garage is so filthy and it's not even on my radar. Crazy girl!

    The sheets though – I totally feel you on that one. Ick.

  2. E Hayes says

    June 3, 2013 at 1:08 pm

    Speak the truth woman!! Story of my life, control freak, dirty sheets, where's the vacuum, hold me while cooking life!

    I have a hard time doing dinner with Ashlynn since as soon as I stand by the stove she wants up. Before she was walking so easily I used to stick her in front of the tupperware cabinet and let her go to town. It'd at least let me chop what I needed or get something in the hot stove, without her in harms way and I could still keep my eye on her the whole time.

  3. Megan. OneFifteenDanville. says

    June 3, 2013 at 1:27 pm

    i love your honesty! I am constantly on the verge of a melt down, and have mastered doing almost everything with a fussy baby wriggling in one arm! Its hard work, its draining. But you are right, its worth it every day!

  4. melissa says

    June 3, 2013 at 1:31 pm

    Yes, yes, yes to all of the above. Messy, exhausting, overwhelming and oh so worth it. I love sweet Hudson's grin with his tongue sticking out – too cute! Can you please teach me how to curl my hair while holding a baby? I haven't mastered that one yet but it sure would be handy! πŸ™‚

  5. erin vancura says

    June 3, 2013 at 1:43 pm

    between lex getting herself and me dirty I'm always doing laundry- I majorly have the clean-control-organized-freak flag… Deep breaths are key-so is a cleaning lady.

  6. SHAYNA says

    June 3, 2013 at 2:02 pm

    Hudson is just SO darn cute! As a non-mom, I appreciate your honesty. It's easy to have baby fever & WANT a baby when they're cute, & cooing & doing all of the fun stuff. What we don't see/aren't around for is the messes, middle of the night wake-ups, etc. I can't fathom what it is to be a mom but, I can imagine that it is one of the most rewarding jobs. You're doing great though & motherhood looks AMAZING on you! πŸ™‚

  7. Jessica M says

    June 3, 2013 at 2:02 pm

    I recently saw this quote "If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the piles and piles of laundry will disappear all too soon and that you will, to your surprise, miss them profoundly." Tomas S. Monson. This is SO true! I'm learning day by day to surrender my crazy flag and have a messy house and happy baby! lol.

  8. Carolyn says

    June 3, 2013 at 2:43 pm

    Posts like this are so refreshing! It's so great to know that I'm not the only one that feels like there's not going to be enough time! πŸ™‚

  9. Erin says

    June 3, 2013 at 3:25 pm

    I'm a total control freak and I know that's something I'll struggle with when we have kids. Heck, I struggle with keeping up with a house without kids right now!

    Love your honest, refreshing posts all the time. Hudson is lucky to have a momma like you!! πŸ™‚

  10. Lindsey says

    June 3, 2013 at 3:26 pm

    It is SO hard! We do the best that we can, I learned quickly to let my control-freak flag down a little too. When Hudson is older he won't remember how the sheets weren't changed every two weeks, but he will remember all the amazing times he had with his Mommy!

    It is such an adjustment letting go of the "old normal" and embracing the "new normal."

  11. KatiePerk says

    June 3, 2013 at 3:29 pm

    For serious.

  12. Tiffany @ Austin Family Diary says

    June 3, 2013 at 4:02 pm

    Totally needed to read this πŸ™‚

  13. Whitney says

    June 3, 2013 at 4:11 pm

    I'm right there with you! And if I do manage to cook supper, something else has to be sacrificed that night. We mommies just can't do it all, all the time! Thanks for the reminder!

  14. connie says

    June 3, 2013 at 4:54 pm

    What Lindsey said is true. Your a great mom & little Hudson loves you very much…..that is what is important. Enjoy every precious moment with him.

  15. The Best of Both Worlds says

    June 3, 2013 at 5:24 pm

    Love this! It's so true! I often think about how so much needs to be done but I'd rather play with my kids or do something else. We'll have plenty of time to fix it all when there grown! He is so cute!

  16. Rachel says

    June 3, 2013 at 5:51 pm

    Awww, I love the way you describe it! Yes, I'm sure life isn't always picture perfect–but that doesn't mean it isn't awesome!!

  17. Vanessa says

    June 3, 2013 at 6:55 pm

    Thank goodness I'm not the only one who hasn't washed the sheets in…um…awhile! But just look at Hudson's smile–he doesn't care if the house is messy. You're doing a great job, mama!

  18. Maegan says

    June 3, 2013 at 7:28 pm

    Definitely needed this today! It's all so true! And as moms, I think we should be allowed to vent.

    One week we ate out for lunch and dinner every. single. day. Eek. Sometimes I think my baby is better behaved in a restaurant high chair than his high chair at home just because he's more used to it!

    But, oh well! Life goes on! Our babes are happy & that's all that matters! πŸ™‚

    Maegan

    lovethemama.blogspot.com

  19. The Eberspachers says

    June 3, 2013 at 8:02 pm

    Oh gosh, I love your honesty in this. It's so hard to balance the everyday stuff all while chasing around our munchkins. I have the same struggle realizing AND accepting I can't do it all. Your little guy sure looks happy going to Target, tho!

  20. Candis @Candis Bo Bandis says

    June 3, 2013 at 8:32 pm

    Love this!! And, we often escape to Target when life gets a little overwhelming too!

  21. Laura {happily ever} Parker says

    June 3, 2013 at 9:34 pm

    I don't have kiddos yet but I love that your keeping it real!! And all those little messes – you can put off for another day (it's not like they are going anywhere!)Yay for Target escapes!

  22. Colleen Sullivan says

    June 3, 2013 at 9:41 pm

    "Because buried under all those dirty clothes, dirty dishes, and mess is something amazing."

    I love this! Beautiful! I could see it being written on a plaque or a printable somewhere!

  23. Erin R. says

    June 4, 2013 at 12:26 am

    That boy is so cute! I see he's helping you at Target by carrying his Puffs. πŸ™‚ You're doing a great job being a Mom Julie!

  24. Katie says

    June 4, 2013 at 12:55 am

    Haha, target trips are always amazing!

    I'm a total control freak and a little worried about our future child! I feel like I will {hopefully} be able to let things go like messiness & cleanliness. But I really hope I am able to let them live their lives without being too controlling!! I need to learn to let go as well.

  25. SugarFreeAsh says

    June 4, 2013 at 1:52 am

    This brought tears to my eyes. It's so, so exhausting sometimes, and it's great to hear other mom's say that too. It's a wild ride indeed!

  26. leah says

    June 4, 2013 at 2:29 am

    Thank you for your honesty!! As any mother knows, it's completely worth it but definitely hard to balance everything we want to. Funny you said that about your sheets, Kyle and I JUST talked about that last night like "how long has it been?!" hahaha

  27. Jessica Reyna Brogan says

    June 7, 2013 at 4:57 am

    All that rings true in our house, too…except for the sheets…my son makes sure I change the sheets often by peeing in our bed every couple of nights after I bring him to bed for his night feeding. It's all so overwhelming: the exhaustion, the awesomeness, the frustration, the joy. And all so worth it!

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