Pat Yourself on the Back . . . Then Laugh!

There's no such thing as the perfect mother . . . even June Cleaver in her high heels while she vacuumed couldn't have been all that great or her damn son wouldn't have been out causing all those problems! ha! But every once in a rare while you can step back and give yourself a pat on the back . . . because even though you're not perfect, there are those moments where things seem to be peaceful and fall into place. And if you don't acknowledge them for the millisecond they exist, you may never find that calm in life you get when everything is just right . . . and then the moment goes away, and you have to laugh.

This happened to me today as I was standing at the kitchen sink. Please realize, I don't say any of this to brag, I say it because I find the humor in it. Just when you get a little too cocky, something always smacks you in the face. So back to the sink . . . I'm feeling pretty good today - I have my oldest daughter at school for the day (and btw, she's doing awesome - more on that later) carrying her wholesome lunch with fruits and veggies (and as little processed food as possible) - I have just put my baby boy down for a nap, after he ate his baby food that I made myself and after I threw his cloth diapers in the washer - and my youngest daughter is sitting in front of me, after eating her lunch, painting and we are talking about mixing colors and she's pointing to the color wheel I've done for her . . . . so I am thinking all of this to myself, how I want to actually pat myself on the back for seeing the fruits of my labor and the choices that I have made that, in my own perspective, make me a pretty good Mom to my 3 kids . . . I'm like "nice job Jen - working our way to a healthier, greener lifestyle - raising smart kids that are happy and healthy" - and then the moment flies away . . . .

Because then reality sinks in . . . I've baked some cupcakes for Marlie's Girl Scout meeting tonight for the girls to decorate and realize I need to ice them - full on, box mix, nothing but sugar in the icing cupcakes . . . and I totally let Samantha decorate and eat one at like 9am . . . and let's get real, it's Wacky Pack Wednesday at Sonic where all kids meals are only $1.99, so my kids are totally getting dinner out of a brown paper bag tonight since we have to get haircuts (because I just found out picture day is Friday) and then be at the GS meeting . . . and said GS meeting lasts until 7pm, so Evan is getting to bed late, and it is questionable that anyone is going to get bathed, which means we are somehow off on bath nights, and it's been how many days since they have had a bath?!?!

And then I laugh . . . like an out loud belly laugh . . . you have to!!!!! Because there is no such thing as a perfect Mom . . . and if you don't pat yourself on the back for the small victories, you really will miss the little moments of peace and laughter . . .

Nothing wrong with a little sugar at 9 in the morning :)