A Note About Happy Mama’s Posts: You can participate by linking up any post you’ve written this month about joy and motherhood. It doesn’t have to be about finding joy specifically, just a positive post about how you’re rockin’ mom-dom!
Keeping it real is one of my blog mantras.
I don’t desire to trick you guys into thinking I’m the best mom ever (as if), or boost your egos by making you think you’re not alone in your failures (for real though, you’re not).
I blog authentically because I don’t really know how else to roll.
Lying has never been my jam. I’m a sucky actress. And, when you get right down to it, I’m just too lazy to keep up with the added pressure of being something I’m not. Being a poser requires entirely too much effort for those of us who wholeheartedly appreciate days filled with nothing more involved than lounging about in jammie pants covered in cookie crumbs and kids.
I share this life with you, the way it truly happens because it just IS.
I really do smell my kids’ necks and hug them at least 12 times every day. But I also yell sometimes. After I ruin their breakfasts. Because they were fighting. While the dog was peeing on the floor.
Truth.
I share it because I live it and I think most of you do too.
SO let me drop some on you right now: choosing happy is HARD.
Every day I wake up and hope that my heart will feel lighter. That joy will be dancing through it because this day will be the day when my choice to be happy becomes stitched to my soul. Part of what makes me me; not something I am chasing because it feels right and good.
Call me naïve (no, hopeful, call me hopeful), but I imagined this journey I launched would be easier. I expected to achieve inner joy by just, um, achieving inner joy. With mind control. And power. Like Neo, in the Matrix. (Side note: I have never been one who could pull off a shiny leather catsuit, but I would probably look pretty killer in that trench coat).
Anyway, here I am, three months into this journey, still wondering what is even up with the Oracle struggling.
Struggling to meet each day focusing on the happy moments of this life.
The ones that fill my heart…
And make me laugh…
And remind me that maybe I need to talk to my kid about adopting a new pose there is an abundance of joy lying about in this life of mine just waiting for me to roll around in it at Ikea with mac and cheese and meatballs on the side …
When I look back, I want to punch my own throat for every moment I felt it clenching with worry. I feel guilty for letting things, seemingly petty things, sap the joy from these moments. And then, I hate that too.
But you know what?
Haters can’t be happy. Haters can pretty much only just be haters.
And probably Facebook that is my problem.
Instead of focusing in on the happy I am creating in my life, with my Dudes, I spend time focusing on the things others are celebrating and wondering why I can’t do those things too?!
Why can’t I just lose 15 pounds already? And, why can’t I make more money? And, why can’t I have my own clothing line filled with shiny leather catsuits that I look amazing in? And, really, why can’t I just meet Justin Timberlake randomly at Wegmans and have him hire me on the spot as his personal dance friend whose primary responsibility it is to watch him do all of his routines and tell him the very best parts before he takes them public?
And so, back to the drawing board I go each day week month, to add another piece to the happiness puzzle.
This month’s credo: Don’t Hate.
Congratulate. Appreciate. Initiate.
Be HAPPY!
Also, in an effort to bring more happiness to others (another item I am working on for this happiness challenge that I will elaborate on next month!), myself and some of the other members of Team Happy Mamas are teaming up this month with Thirty-One Gifts, makers of stylish and functional personal products and storage solutions, to give one happy mama a super happy day! One lucky mama is going to receive a $200 gift certificate to use on some totes or handbags or storage products or whatever floats your boat from the site. Totally up to you!
Now, enter to win below and don’t forget to link up your Happy Mama posts this week too.
I like the FREE TO BE™ CROSSBODY / BLACK TWILL STRIPE
large utility bags
Every day I’m grateful to be alive. One of the ways I ensure the happy is to remind myself of that. Then I try to remind myself to say yes as much as I can. Sometimes that means I have to find a creative way to rephrase things when all I want to do is shout “Oh HELLS no!” But I do the best I can.
AS for the thirty-one item I’d most like to have, those storage box things look pretty awesome.
I love the picnic tote thermal!
I would love to own the suite cross n’ fold purse because it looks classy.
I like the Easy Breezy Tote in Citrus Medallion.
Retro metro wallet
I love the large utility bags. They fit SO much in them – perfect for the beach, shopping, storage, laundry, etc.
I’m struggling with the same thing. And the fact that my oldest child is becoming an adult and abandoning our happy little life for one of his own. Meanie. Seriously though, I struggle with appreciating all of the wonderful things in my life and instead focus on the why-not, why-can’t-I, I-just-wish stuff. Happiness…I can’t believe I’m saying this…is hard. lol
So well put!!! I agree…we have to initate in order to be happy. Initate the happiness and hopefully it really will follow! Now I want to go go Ikea and get lost in a giant plate of meatballs…yummm!
There are too many places to go online that aren’t authentic. This is not one of them. So, there’s that. The other stuff comes and goes, good and bad, happy and unhappy. The trick is finding a way to keep the ungood from infringing on the good. And yes, IT IS HARD.
You crack me up. :) Thanks for getting my day started with a smile. I could use a new giant purse, mine are getting sort of beat up. Thank you!!!
I love how even when you’re being somewhat serious you make me laugh. JT is totally missing out by not bringing you on his team. I’m thinking you propose the next Jimmy Fallon/JT skit and that’s your open door.
All funny aside, you and I are in the same boat with letting annoyances steal joy. I am so guilty of that. I hate myself when I allow that to happen and everyday I go to bed vowing to do better, to be better, to love and be more patient. I feel like I fail all to often and it blows…big time. Must be a mom thing. A vicious, ridiculous mom-cycle of hating on ourselves. Not cool. Stop the hate – I’m with you.
I think not hating is a really great step towards happiness.
Love you and your honesty! As for the 31 item I’d like, I’ve been eyeing their hair straightener pocket thing.
I don’t think that the link up is working. Mine shows up on one blog but not yours and there are no more blogs linked up. I’m sure that there are way more than the 8 of us. Anyone else having this problem too?
I love you for keeping it real. Great photos too!
Not once did I think that you were a poser here. Nope and that is why I, and so many others, love you.
I’ve read blogs who built this bubble of happy around them. Nothing can go wrong in their bubble. And I call bullshit.
Being a mom is hard yo. Wouldn’t it be much easier if we all said “My kid is being a jerk today so instead of reading him a book tonight, I’m going to drink”…see…normal
Thank you for keeping it real. It’s what I love. If there were only rainbows and unicorns I wouldn’t buy it. And, the same goes for facebook. If you only throw up the good and the wonderful and the awesome, I’m putting money on the fact that behind the scenes the -ish is hitting the fan.
So, just remember that:)
Well said, Mama.