Perfectly Imperfect

Sometimes on the web it is easy to forget that people only show you the GOOD parts. The tidy rooms. The finished projects. The most perfect cupcake in the batch. And of course, the cute baby photos. It can be easy to begin to feel inadequate. Sometimes I have to catch myself when I look around and think, "How are all these people doing this? And doing it so perfectly? And then finding time to blog about it forcryingoutloud?"

When my house, my tiny little crackerbox of a house, is in bad need of a once over. A run of the sweeper, as my Grandmom used to call it. And the beautiful roses that my husband bought me (just because I had a migraine) are wilting and fading. And a wall remains only half painted, because Josie woke up from her nap early a couple weeks ago and we never got back to it. Our bedroom is the holding area for all the junk we don't have a spot for. Our once-perfect coffee table has crayon marks and pen scribbles on it. We are fighting (and winning) a battle with pantry moths. I haven't the slightest clue as to how to start potty-training. I ate Fig Newtons for breakfast this morning. My kids cry and make hideous faces and refuse to eat meals I have lovingly prepared for them. And I have no intention of stopping the bottle with my littlest baby anytime soon, despite the frowns of my pediatrician. I just can't. Because I am so dang imperfect.

 

Josie's toilet creation

That all-important 1st birthday cake... that cracked in half and all the icing bled

 
Christmas morning blues

Despite my best efforts to get them to look at the camera and smile

I say "say cheese" and this is what I get

2nd birthday cake camera moment is a bust

And I kept them there at least 2 days afer this!

The wall that will one day be finished, but not today

 

So when you are perusing the blogosphere, please, for me, don't forget that what you see is what you are wanted to see. Few bloggers want you to believe they are anything less than perfect. They want to inspire you and show you what they can do. They want to impress you and wow you. They are the people who dress really cute, with scarves and like, toe rings, to go to the grocery store. And carry their best bag.

I am the blogger who wants to console you and let you know you are not the only one who not only doesn't get pedicures, but is still wearing the same nail polish from 4 months ago. What's left of it anyway. I'm the blogger that says, "don't make dessert, just eat some chocolate chips." The blogger that approves of letting your kids hang out in the crib for an extra 10 minutes so you can sleep. (Unless they are crying, then that's just mean.) The blogger that knows that, on a bad day, intentions are just as good as actions.

So I'm just saying: No judgments here.

Clearly.