This quote is one of my favorites and one I try to remember each day. It's a hard lesson to learn, but you have to just be yourself. Don't let your perception of another person's reality cloud your happiness. It's usually not all it's made up to be. We are constantly engaging with our friends and family on social media. It's the first thing we do in the morning and the last thing we do at night. We are inundated with posts about luxurious gifts, on a whim trips and impromptu date nights. This is mostly bologna. If you are married and have children when the hell do you have time to pee alone let alone be whisked off to Mexico for a weekend? You can't just leave in a minutes notice without chaos ensuing. Why would your husband buy you a new beamer when the minivan you're driving is only a year old?
My Mom was always telling me to think before I speak. I think people nowadays need to think before they post. The lives some people are portraying online is so fake. Most Moms barely get enough sleep to function in the morning. We only dream of a real "Vacation". Not the one that you take with your children. No that's more work than staying home while school is in session during Science project season. I mean a real vacation. The kind of vacation where you get to sleep in and you are only awakened by the sounds of the ocean waves crashing against the sand. The vacation where someone brings you pretty colored drinks with a mini umbrella in it. I don't have time for the social media competition. I'm too busy raising my children to be the best they can be. I sometimes throw on yesterday's pants and a sweater to cover up the cereal my son spilled on me. I don't worry about the little things. I mean they are just that, the little things. As long as my children are clean, fed and have a roof over their head I'm happy.
I think it's great if you have time to spend hours on end on Facebook. Just remember, us regular ole Moms who are trying our best are reading your posts. Try and be more realistic and maybe try writing a post about waking up in the middle of the night by being puked on. Or taking your first sip of coffee and realizing your daughter "made it for you" with a concoction of ketchup and milk. How about walking out of the house late of course and once at work you notice you have two different shoes on. Yes, it happens. Being a Mom is a huge challenge. We don't need any more obstacles. Real life is just as interesting if not more interesting than the fabricated life you're portraying. Feel free to share a real story. You may be surprised at how many people can relate.
To all the Moms reading this, stop comparing yourself to others. You are doing a great job! Just remember, you are a great Mom and your children are wonderful. No one notices your mismatched shoes and the stain on your shirt. They just see you, a beautiful Mom who loves her kids. Keep up the good work.
