But in reality what would happen after looking at so many my-life-is-so-perfect-my-children-are-the-best-we-have-fun-all-the-time blogs is that I would start comparing. I would start thinking, "Oh, I don't (fill in the blank: have as cute or clean of a house, do fun activities all the time, dress myself or my girls in super-trendy, cute clothes and accessories, etc.) like this blog author does." Or, "Oh, man, I (fill in the blank again: get impatient with my girls from time to time, have a sink full of dishes and baskets full of laundry and yet I'm on the internet ignoring them, am still carrying around babyweight, etc.) and it doesn't sound like this blog author ever does."
I would end up more discouraged than inspired. I had to stop reading those types of blogs because I was getting so down on myself. I had to realize and have to keep reminding myself that even though I may do _______ or not do _________, that doesn't make me a bad mom. I know there are things I'm probably doing wrong as a mother, but there are definitely a lot of things I know I'm doing right. And comparing my faults to someone else's successes was not a fair comparison at all. Those moms have their faults too, everyone does, they just weren't featured on their blogs.
And that's the thing: I wasn't seeing these other blog author moms in their homes, in the trenches, day in and day out like I was seeing me and my family. Of course their lives looked/sounded/seemed perfect--that's how they photographed, wrote about, edited, and chose to portray them on their blogs. In short, I was comparing my outtakes, bloopers, and behind-the-scenes to their highlight reels.
The irony is not lost on me, then, that I chose to start this mommy blog and join the mommy blog ranks. But I started this because I want it to be different. I don't want this blog to cause the same mommy discouragement that I felt after reading those other blogs. My hope is that this blog will be able to provide a fairer comparison for everyday, non-perfect moms.
I intend to share the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, the successes and the failures, and I hope you'll rejoice and/or commiserate with me:
* Check it out, I finished a cool project. I'll tell you honestly how long it sat around half-finished and how many treats it took for my girls to stop whining enough for me to finally complete it.
* I haven't showered in __ days because I've been up all night each night with a sick/teething child and I keep choosing naps over hygiene during the day. Oh, you too? Awesome! Wanna swap perfume and rock greasy updos together?
* I feel like SuperMom today! Let me list all the things I've accomplished before lunchtime. Feel free to pat me on the back.
* Ugh, this potty training business is killing me. At this point I'm pretty sure we should just get new carpet...
Motherhood is absolutely amazing, please don't get me wrong. It is the very best choice I have made in my life, the most fulfilling, rewarding thing I have ever done. But motherhood is also hard. Very hard. My life as a mother is not perfect, and not every moment is beautiful and mommy blog worthy. But I love it. That's what I want to portray on this blog: there is immense joy in being a mother, and not everything has to be perfect in order to find that joy.
I certainly hope that I can be a source of support to other moms in finding the overall joy in the ups and downs of motherhood. Joy and humor. Definitely humor! Because honestly, there are so many times as a mom when, if you didn't laugh, you'd break down crying. I mean, am I right?
I thank you in advance for your support of me, and it is my sincere hope that I can lend needed support to other moms as well.
Carrie.
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