Perfection

We live in a time and era where perfection is sought.  We look at women with perfect bodies, we listen to media and music that has been altered to sound perfect, we watch TV programs of homes that have been decorated perfectly.  And we often hold ourselves to the same standards.

But the thing is, with all of the perfection, we lose an element of authenticity.  Because most people actually don't have perfectly airbrushed bodies and perfectly smooth, shiny, wind-proof hair.  Most people, even the best singers don't sing perfectly on pitch 100% of the time.  And real homes that we actually live in are not museums where every detail has to look stunning.

Get rid of the perfection dream and hold onto the authentic dream.

This is what the authentic dream looks like:

-trying hard
-accepting, not neglecting your emotions
-messing up
-learning from mistakes sometimes
-making the same mistakes again other times
-taking time to relax even if you don't think you deserve it
-doing some things halfway
-doing other things really well
-staying patient
-losing your patience sometimes
-avoiding hassels
-loving yourself no matter what

Adventures with baby

Mammahood in itself is a grand adventure, of course, and may satisfy your need to explore and learn about the world.  However, just because you are a mother, don't stop yourself from growing in other ways.  Keep exploring, learning and developing skills in areas that you love.  Stay passionate and true to yourself.

Since being a mother, I have had many adventures.  Here are some examples:

• Travelling... From checking out a new town to trekking across the world, travelling is a great way to tap into your adventurous side.
• Trying out new jobs... Figure out how comfortable leaving your little one with family or daycare.  If you are up for it, try going back to work or applying for different jobs, even part time.
• Exercising... You don't need to run a marathon or climb a mountain to have an adventure.  Try exercising with your baby.  A walk in the woods or a new park will do.
• Cooking... I must admit that I have not spent much time lately exploring cooking.  However, in the summer when there is more free time, it's fun to try making different things.
• Crafting... I am learning how to knit, which is a great new skill, since it is quiet and does not require much concentration.  I can knit and watch our daughter at the same time.
• Reading... I was not a big reader before, but if you are at home watching your little one play, an adventure in a book might be a nice accompaniment.  Just don't get so involved that you forget about baby!!!
• Make-believe... You are never too old for make-believe.  If you really want an adventure, imagine yourself as your favorite character from a movie or book.  Dress up, dress baby up and go have an adventure!

 Adventures make motherhood even more full of novelty and excitement!

Habit 5: Put things away

Lately I have attempted to establish the habit of picking up after myself.  And the results are remarkable!

In the past, I tended to ignore clutter and messes until it was utterly unbearable.  Then, at some point when I either had energy or could not stand living in piles of junk, I would have a marathon clean-up.  The place would be clean for a few days or even a week, but after a while, the mess would build build build.

So lately, I have tried something new.  When I see clutter, I put it away.  When I see dust, I wipe it off.  After I am done eating, I wash the dishes rather than piling them in the sink.  Rather than saving everything for a marathon, I try to straighten up so everything looks good enough before leaving the house.  While our house will never win a prize for neatness or cleanliness, it is a lot more comfortable now than before.

Some things I have learned from this new habit are:

• Cleaning up doesn't mean getting everything perfectly organized.  Improvement is more important than perfection.
• 2 minutes of straightening up can make the place look a lot less cluttered.
• Straightening up before leaving the house will make your return much more relaxing and stress-free
• Putting your clothes away before bed will help keep your closet orderly.  When the morning comes, you will be even less apt to put them away.
• Picking stuff up is a huge stress reliever.  It helps to clean up before starting a new project or dreaded chore.
• Promise to pick up before making more of a mess.  When you are exhausted from adding to the mess (say a new pile of dishes), you will not feel like cleaning up.
• If you want to start a project but don't look forward to cleaning up the mess, consider a less messy alternative.

Of course, if you spend more time through the day picking up, you will have to spend less time doing other things.  These things might include:

• going online
• making messes
• talking on the phone
• snacking
• playing video games
• exercising
• cooking
• shopping/buying
• working

Evaluate your priorities and figure out how to leave some space every few hours to straighten up.  It will ease your day!