Category: Family Life

“May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day.”

– Native American Proverb

“Every day, a million miracles begin at sunrise.”

Eric Jerome Dickey

Photographs taken at

Busch Wildlife Conservation Area

St. Charles County, Missouri

“The moon fascinates us in her simplicity.” – Avijeet Das

St. Charles County, MO

July 13, 2022

“The air was fragrant with a thousand aromatic herbs, with fields of lavender, and with the brightest roses blushing in tufts all over the meadows.”

― William C. Bryant

per·fec·tion

/pərˈfekSH(ə)n

noun

1. the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects.

A while back someone mentioned to me that they were going to take a break from social media. They continued by saying that when they spent time on social media, they felt as though they were not enough. They were struggling to keep up with housework and take care of the kids.  That’s the reason for this post. I want YOU to know YOU ARE ENOUGH. I am guilty of using filters.  I do some creative cropping. However, this is our real world. It is far from perfect, yet it is perfect for us. Your world is perfect too.  It is ok to have mismatched clothes. It is ok to have bed head and sticky faces. Realness is perfection. We are all enough don’t let those flawless accounts fool you.  Don’t cheat your own happiness  by comparing yourself to others.

How many times a day do you get on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest and look at all the “perfectness”? Is that even a word? You might notice the sparkling clean and freshly decorated houses. Bright shiny faces with dazzling hair and perfectly matched clothes. How about those at home chefs preparing and serving meals that are magazine quality. Is this reality? For some maybe. However, I would say that most things displayed on social media is just that, a display. There are an amazing amount of “picture perfect” performances going on out there. Let your reality, be your perfection.

When I make a post on Instagram or Facebook, I do it for me. It is my “journal”, my “look back log”. I don’t post it to make someone feel less or to compare my world to someone else’s.  I might have a few good pictures with bright shiny faces and adorable outfits, but mostly I have day to day shots of our life. As a homeschooling momma, life is quite busy. Between lessons, field trips, co-op meet-ups and sporting activities our days are full. My house is somewhat neat and organized most of the time.  However, it is in need of a pretty good deep cleaning at this moment.  I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring and the commencement of my annual cleaning frenzy. For the time being it is not Pinterest perfect and that is ok. I am still going to take too many pictures. When I see a photo op,  I am going to take it. My child will not be dressed in his finest attire. You should know, my son wears jogging pants and graphic tees 99.9% of the time. Let’s be real, most days he runs around without a shirt. I am pretty sure I say   “please put on a shirt” 10 times a day. Rarely is his hair combed. On those days when I want to grab a picture of a special event or project I always double check to make sure he is at least clothed. As for the hair, let’s be real, he is eleven. I also take care of a little girl. She is what we affectionately refer to as a “threenager”. She is the perfect combination of cuteness and sass. She has been in my care since she was a baby and is pretty much part of our family. Most of the time she has Einstein like hair and cinnamon on her cheeks. Between the two of them we usually have books strewn about, toys in window sills and socks stuffed in baskets and jars.  I am positive that I am not the only individual out there who is maneuvering a mess to take a picture. We all have messes. It is ok.

Basically, I just wanted to share that no matter what is happening in your little world it is perfect and real for you. I want to encourage you to share. Post those amazing shots of block towers, Lego creations and first bites. Post those memories of  making spaghetti, burning the sugar cookies and wearing those watermelon helmets. Enjoy the messes and imperfections. Keep your own “look back” log. I promise that one day in the future you will look at one of your posts, probably the one where the kids are covered in mud and boogers, and you are going to smile. You will be glad that you saved that memory.  Don’t worry about what others are thinking or doing. Enjoy life. You are enough.

Take care of you,

Kim

Early one morning, before everyone else was awake I saw a vision of those three monkeys. You know those “see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil” monkeys. That’s when it dawned on me. Sometimes in life we deal with critics and naysayers. You know those people who tell you that “you can’t do it” or “you’re not good enough”. Then there are times when the biggest critic and naysayer is yourself. Been there, done that. I’m my own worst critic. I do it without even thinking. When those times arise, you need to squash that negativity like a bug. The thing is. I would never speak to my family, friends or even strangers the way I have talked to myself. You shouldn’t either.  As of late, I’ve been working hard to change my demeanor. Everyday words and actions impact your life. Negative self-talk will bring you down so fast. As I work on this there are a few things I am doing to change. Which brings me to those monkeys, just in a new light.

See You.

Be confident in yourself. Look at yourself and see the awesome person you are. Don’t compare yourself to others. This is a biggie. What is that old saying? Comparison is the thief of joy. Be joyful.  Be your own person. Wear that crazy hat and plaid pants. Color your hair purple. YOU BE YOU! You are responsible for yourself and your happiness. Believe you are strong, and you are strong.  Believe you are smart, and you are smart. Open your eyes and look at your awesomeness. You are astonishing. You are marvelous. Repeat this and believe this. If you can’t change something you see in yourself then you need to accept and learn to love it. If you want to change and can change, then do it.

Speak you.

Talking to yourself is fabulous. There is nothing wrong with it. Really. Some of my best conversations are with me.  Yes, I have been my own worst critic, but I am learning. I am stepping outside of my box. I am making the difference. It’s not going to happen overnight. It’s not going to be easy. Just give it a go. Start by saying “I am fabulous”. You can say it out loud or you can whisper it to yourself. Say it, mean it.  Compliment yourself.  Be nice to you. Say the words you need to hear, not the words that will bring you down.  Be courageous. Congratulate yourself on being awesome. There are a wide variety of positive adjectives out there. Use them. Say them. Scream them.

Hear you.

When you do have that conversation with yourself, listen. Really listen. Say the words over again. It’s important.

If you’re like me and have been critical of yourself. Stop it right now. It’s not nice. Try a new approach. SEE YOU+SPEAK YOU+HEAR YOU=LOVE YOU.

It matters. You matter.

Take care of you,

Kim

Is winter kicking your butt? Do you have a case of the blahs? I’m not sure about you, but I absolutely have hit a motivation blockade of epic proportions.

January has not even come to a close and I’m on the struggle bus going nowhere. I started this blog on the first and had every intention of doing two-three posts a week. I had my notebook of ideas. I had my Blog 101 notes at the ready. I even had back up posts pre-written. Then came life. It came at me in the form of doctor appointments, lesson plans, peri menopause, and an epic snowstorm. They all kicked me back a few paces.

So here I am today sharing some thoughts and ideas to overcome those Winter Blues.

1. Enjoy the “Beauty” of a winter. The snow clinging to tree branches. The icicles sparkling in the sun. The bright crimson cardinal sitting blissfully on the fence.
2. Get outside. Yep! Go on! I know it’s cold. I know you’d rather be warm and cozy inside. Just listen to me. Go have some outside fun. Breathe in the fresh air. Get a little Vitamin D.

Yesterday, for example, our family ventured out in the frigid weather and went to TopGolf. TopGolf is a high-tech driving range that has heated bays, but when the wind is fierce, and the snow is falling, it is cooooold. It was fantastic. We all had a great time and lots of laughs.

3. Discover a new hobby. This year for Christmas I was gifted jigsaw puzzles. I forgot how much I enjoyed doing a puzzle. During the recent snowstorm I sat down and spent some time working on a 1000-piece gem. If puzzles aren’t your cup of tea, how about paint by numbers, Legos or crocheting. There is a whole hobby filled world out there. Go for it!!
4. Get up and move!!!!! Inside, outside, upside down. It doesn’t matter, just move. I like to put on the soundtrack to Mamma Mia and dance around my kitchen. Not only does this lighten my mood, but it is a great source of amusement for my family.
5. Last, but certainly not least, go ahead and “Spring Clean”. Sort, organize, throw away, donate. There are plenty of resources out there that can aid you in the process, give you ideas and motivate you to get it done. Crank up the music, gather up boxes and trash bags and a have a blast. Your house will be a bit cleaner and your mind will be refreshed.

These are just a few ideas to get you through the next couple of months of frigid temperatures and cloudy skies.  Here’s to delightful hot chocolate and simple pleasures.

Take care of you,

Kim