One thing that I have realized recently is that there are two basic realities for moms these days:
photo credit: Marcus Design
Blog World
Blog World is where life is well-organized, color-coordinated and everything works out well. You can find Blog World on Pinterest, as well as many other websites and blogs today.
In the back of our minds we know that life isn’t really like that most of the time, but when we see so many pictures of perfectly decorated homes and read so many blog posts about the wonderful things that other women are doing for themselves and their families, it can be easy to compare our lives to theirs and begin to feel down about ourselves or inadequate.
Real World
Then there is what actually happens at YOUR house (and mine). The laundry is piled up, the bed isn’t made, the furniture hasn’t been dusted in two months, the toddler just spread jelly all over the table, it’s lunch time and you haven’t had a shower yet.
Yes, that is actually what the front room of our house looks like today. There is a box of toilet paper which arrived from Amazon two days ago and has yet to be unpacked. I normally don’t buy toilet paper from Amazon, but this deal was too good to pass up (48 double rolls of Angel Soft Toilet Tissue (48 Total Count for just $21.50 shipped or just $.45 cents per double roll!).
I also have stacks of give away items and other things that I need to go through to decide if I will keep them or give them away.
I love looking at Pinterest and reading blogs to get ideas, but sometimes it just isn’t healthy for me. It’s great to be inspired by other people’s lives, but MY life is the one I have to live. I can get ideas from other sources, but if I spend all my time looking and dreaming and never take any action to make MY life better, I am just wasting time.
So for the next few days I will be living my life in the real world and getting more of my house in order. Time to actually put some of those Pinterest ideas into action!
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This is a great post, and a good reminder for me. Pinterest will do that to you, as will Facebook. I read posts from friends who always seem to have great things going on, and it’s hard to not compare. I just try to remind myself that they are only posting the good things that are happening, and not the bad stuff that happens, and that our lives always include both.
Yes, it’s easy for people to edit out what they don’t want you to know.
I agree. It’s too easy, in our world today, to fall into the trap of comparing our lives to other peoples lives, whether it be their looks, homes, cars, jobs, children, etc. Comparison leads to discontentment.
I really appreciate your post! It is very liberating, as my house looks a lot like the picture of your house (just unfortunately without awesome deals in boxes). My sister just sent me your website, and I’ve been fascinated to read through some of your posts so far. But, I’ve got a question for you. Is this all you do with your spare time? I feel somewhat discouraged this would take ALL my spare time ALL the time to master… I’m sure after doing this so long you’ve figured out how to be quicker about it, but how do you fit “finding the deals” into life at first when you don’t know what in the world you’re doing?
Hi Faith! I definitely do not spend a lot of time searching for deals. I post a few deals on my blog that I feel are worth my time and the time of my readers, but I rarely use coupons and when I do it is a printable coupon rather than the ones that you can find in the newspaper. You can find out my strategies for saving money on groceries in my ebook Save More Clip Less here. I spend my time making a weekly plan of my top priorities (read more here) and making a weekly menu (read more here). Then I spend my time living out my priorities. I hope that helps. Feel free to ask me any other questions you have.
Firstly, I love your blog! I’ve implemented so many things such as budgets, online surveys, and gluten-free meals. I got your blog through Pinterest, so it’s good for something, right? lol. Seriously though it does eat up a ton of time and I’ve been weaning myself off.
Thank you again for all the posts!
Thanks Karen. I’ll check it out.
You are right, its not healthy to spend too much time comparing real life with “blog world”. Its quite liberating to let go of all that.
Thanx for keeping it real. My living room is looking exactly the same plus a pile of used kleenex, nasal spray, 5 dirty cups and cough drops..so flu season is here. I will not risk my health and prolong recovery in order to look Pinterest perfect
Oh, sorry Jelena–that stinks! Hope you feel better soon.
Thank-you! It is so nice to know I am not alone!
so glad to know that my house isn’t the only one that isn’t organized and clean all the time.
Kimberlee, this is one reason why I love reading your blog: you are REAL! It’s easy to get discouraged when reading other blogs of women who seem to keep everything perfectly in order (ie. perfectly decorated home, where perfectly balanced organic meals are prepared for their angelic children, while they also maintain a business and take on countless DIY projects and daily educational activites for their preschoolers, and homeschool the others. Oh, and they don’t drink coffee either.)! Okay, that might be an exageration, but you get the idea.
Well, I don’t drink coffee either, but at least you know there is one other person in the world who doesn’t have it all together all the time.
One more post of why I like reading your blog, you are REAL! This is my laundry room on a real regular basis. The living room stays pretty neat because it helps me stay focused when its cleaned every up everyday(everything gets stashed in the laundry room). You also gave me one more reason to stay away from Pinterest, been trying to so am going to continue to try.
At least you keep the living room clean! Pinterest is just like anything else online–it’s not necessarily bad, but it can definitely take over your life if you’re not careful.
This is the kick in the butt I needed to get motivated this AM. We are finishing renovations on floors and bathrooms. The boys rooms have be decluttered, but unfortunately the remainder of the stuff is dragging in the family room and living room and the basement is full of drywall dust begging for my attention. The realities of life are nice to see. When I see the mess I’m just happy to have a home that is almost paid off and a job that will make that possible.
You can do it Sheila!
This is so true. Most of the time, comparing my life with how others live theirs do not really inspire me, instead it depresses me. So for my own sanity, I stopped doing it so hello peace of mind
Thank you! It is so rare to find blogs that are open, honest and real. I struggle to just get the daily chores done with two littles two and under and big kids at school, oh and a husband in school and working full time. I am tired just writing it down, ha! Things will change, but for now, I try to focus on being happy that we have food on the table and lots of love to give. Thanks again.
Wow! You have a lot going on, but it sounds like you have a great attitude Hillery.
Thanks Kimberlee. Some days my attitude is better than others. There are the times where I truly enjoy the moment and we have so much fun being at home, laughing and having an at home date. And then I go to the grocery store and just the very basics cost so much more than they used to, but our income hasn’t changed. It can be depressing. I am gluten free and my son is dairy free. I also appreciate the fact that you know all about that and still make it work on a budget. Looking forward to learning more from you.
thank you for a real photo – as my mother always said when we were young ‘it looks like a bomb has gone off in here’ that’s my house these days with 4 little ones running around. Thanks also for the reminder to put in to action all the budget tips that i usually use but due to immigration issues we have been a family separated for the past 2 months (I remain a solo mum to 4 for the foreseeable future) and along with a miscarriage I had given up on all my usual saving. So time to get back into gear I’ve got the menu list written for the next week – used to do it a month at a time but its small steps back for now. God bless.
I am so sorry that you are a single mom for now Shona, but glad that I could encourage you.
Rings true with me! That’s what my whole house looks like right now. When mom’s sick, whew! I was on change of an activity for a Valentine party. And I needed a treat because many kid has red dye allergy. I saw these great things on Pinterest… which were super cute and all… but life won out. And it was fine.
I am fairly new to your blog, but this was at just the right time! Don’t we all put too much pressure on our ourselves?! I shared this post with many of my friends!
Just realized too that you are kind-of local – I am about an hour away in Jefferson, GA. Keep up the great posts, we need them to keep in check!
Welcome Sabrina!