Dear Mamas,
Embrace the mess. Embrace the chaos. And live in the moment.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been multitasking all the things at one time, and rarely took a moment to just sit and be. So naturally, when little miss came along, the multitasking continued. The constant need to tidy up, the defeated feeling of never quite being able to keep up, and the sheer exhaustion of trying to keep things perfectly in order all the time.
For so long I noticed myself missing out on the most precious moments because I was too busy trying to manufacture perfection. Worrying over spilled milk and stuffed animals thrown about the living room. Stressing over toys being tipped over, left in the middle of the rug, and pieces going missing. And spending my time cleaning up rather than being present.
And what happened during those times where that I was missing out on moments, still being stressed, and still having to clean up later. There is nothing worse than the burden of mom guilt where you feel like you’ve failed on every front. I was robbing myself of joy, and one day I had to step back and remind myself that there is beauty in the mess.
And that I needed to embrace the mess. Embrace the chaos. And live in the moment.
The mess means that little minds are exploring their environment.
The mess means that imaginations are running wild.
The mess means that little bellies are full of nourishment.
The mess means that the tiny little human that you prayed for is here in your midst.
And soon enough, the mess will be gone. So stop wasting your time stressing over it, and enjoy making it with your kids. Get on the floor, get in the teepee, go outside and just play. Just be. Not only will you notice a difference, but your kids will too. Tidy up after the little ones are asleep (in broad categories), and wait to tame the clutter till playtime is over. You’d be surprised how much less stress you’ll put on yourself than trying to maintain the illusion of perfection.
