5 Things All Moms Need to Stop

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Ok, friends, this list could run the gamut of everything from “stop eating 17 thin mints in a row” to “stop checking FB all day” to “stop obsessing over the Real Housewives,” but I don’t want to stop doing any of those things (just substitute the Duggars for the Housewives in my family-nerd alert), but this list is the stuff I feel really passionate about . . . at least for today.

Drum roll . . . .

1. STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS 

Social media (Pinterest especially) makes this challenging. But, moms, we have to. You are not your mom, your best friend, or that random girl who always posts flowery stuff about her kids and her workouts on Facebook. You are you. You don’t have to be anyone else. I have a dear friend who is crafty beyond all imagination: throwing beautiful dinner parties in her back yard akin only to the set of Parenthood and making the beach in Galveston look PRETTY. But I’m not her, and that’s ok. I have other things to offer my kids and my community. When we compare ourselves to others, we fail to live up to our OWN potential. Be YOU!

Our vaca to Galveston. Note: poorly posed pic and trash in foreground.
Our vaca to Galveston. Note: poorly posed pic and trash in foreground.
My friend's pic. Note: talent.
My friend’s pic. Note: talent.

2.  STOP WISHING FOR THE FUTURE

I am guilty of this when the days are long and tedious and I wonder if I’m doing it “right.” But I know the future won’t be easier. Let’s try to live in today. Not even in the coming weekend. We all know that we are not guaranteed a tomorrow, but we have CHOOSE to live that way. My sister recently lost my nephew in utero. We knew all along his life would ONLY be sustained in her womb, so she chose to enjoy him while he was with her.  She chose today over tomorrow. That’s a hard choice!

3. STOP EATING ON THE RUN

Y’all. Food is awesome. Enjoy it!  Stop eating on the run or standing up. If that means you have to sit down alone during nap time, do it!!! We all know that with littles, we are just short-order cooks anyway. And I’m pretty sure that kids who don’t eat lunch with their parents are not jacked up . . . right?

4. STOP SAYING YES TO IT ALL

There’s a time to say yes more, but if you have littles, it’s not now. This past 12 months was the year I said yes to everything. It was a disaster. Instead of doing a few things well, I did all things haphazardly. It’s ok to sometimes NOT be productive. It’s ok to spend nap time watching the Mindy Project on Netflix, not to have a summer bucket list, to say no to committee positions, even if you would have rocked them in your former life. Find what you love; do it. Don’t do too many things you love . . . or the ones you love will suffer. I learned this the hard way. The next 12 months will be different!

5. AND FOR THE LOVE . . . STOP TAKING CAR SELFIES!

People. I don’t want to see your duck lip car selfies on my Facebook feed, seatbelt or not.  You’re a mom! Just think like this: The Internet is forever! Our kids do not want to grow up and see all of our duck-face-car-selfies on-line. Do you want YOUR mom to take selfies?

Friends don’t let friends take car selfies. Stop it.

Unless:

  • You just got your hair did and there’s a sign on your stylist’s mirror that urges you to selfie and tag for a discount. Acceptable.
  • You are participating in some sort of cause that urged you to take a selfie. Ok, do it.
  • Your kid falls asleep in your lap and you are forced to take an “ussie” for Instagram. Go for it.

What would you add to the list?

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