I have noticed a trend in blogging lately. Mompreneurs who, while they love their jobs, feel as though they are neglecting their duties as a Mom and Wife. I even blogged about this over a year ago here: Mommy Guilt. Adding to this Mommy guilt is the increasing pressure of being able to live up to the standards we have imposed upon ourselves after reading one too many crafty mom blogs. There are gorgeous photos and projects that these amazing women manage while juggling family and career. We then think, I should be able to do that or I’m just not that talented. Sister, noone is that talented all the time. Websites and blogs display these fun projects all in one place, but I know nobody who is able to do it all, all the time.
Then there is Facebook. A seemingly endless PR campaign for us all. I read a study recently that Facebook causes depression and feelings of inadequacy. If this is true for you, you are looking at it all wrong. There is no such thing as a perfect person. We all have our flaws and are all dealing with our own demons each and every day. I for one do not care to post how depressed I feel one day, or pictures of the bags under my eyes. Who wants to post bad pictures of themselves? I’m a happy person overall and choose to keep my Facebook upbeat and full of pictures that don’t make me want to crawl under a rock and hide. There are also those who choose to use Facebook as a sort of therapy session, which doesn’t bother me one bit. It is what it is. People use it for whatever they want. If you do not like what someone posts, un-friend them. Worse than those who use it one way or the other, are those who complain about the way someone uses Facebook.
Oh and who could forget about Pinterest? Photograph after photograph of immaculate houses and gorgeous handmade home decor, expensive shopping, delicious recipes and couture clothing. It is most definitely not “real life” but I love it. I see it as a fun little place to spend my extra time and find fun project ideas. Not as a website full of people more talented than myself, which must be the entire world with that many flawless photographs.
We are all wonderful at one thing or another.
Nobody is perfect.
Nobody.
Do what you like to do and do it well while enjoying your life.
If you are no longer enjoying something, it is probably time to stop.
Please feel free to add to this list, sometimes I think we all need a little reality check 
About Lindsey
Love this Lindsey! It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to do it all and beat ourselves up when we can’t achieve it. For me it’s a work in progress to be okay with not doing/having/making/crafting it all. My two year old has a number of special needs, and it’s the one thing that finally has started to let me let go of the guilt (well, a tiny bit – again, work in progress!). In reality if the house isn’t spotless, if my oldest goes to school in crazy mismatched wrinkled clothes and if we are eating cereal for dinner – it’s OKAY. None of those are going to damage my children, and I might actually be a nicer/calmer/more fun mommy because I said screw it about whatever I think I “should” be doing that night. Work in progress for sure.
Very well said, “work in progress”
Aren’t we all lol!
Bless you!!! You are saying what we are all thinking.. Somedays I do not get out of my sweats .. Laundry isnt done .. My son stays in his Jammies all day.. and others I spend cleaning until my hands are gonna fall off .. we are not all perfect… oh well … my son seems pretty well adjusted despite his mothers not perfect status..
Amen to that!
Hey, I’m a Jones!!! haha!
But seriously, this is a great post. I’ve realized *very* recently that I can NOT do it all, and I’ve decided to focus on what I know I do best. Before, I was trying to stay on top of all of the social media conversations, writing blog posts 3-5 times a week (yeah right!), running a business AND raising a toddler. Yeah- not possible! Things are going much smoother now that I’ve come to this realization, too- and I feel a lot less stressed =)
Wonderful to hear Heather
You’re so right Lindsey! Love this post! Thanks for making me take a “reality check” I need one from time to time!!!
Girl we all need ‘em
Such a great post! I still need to let some things go. I work a stressful full-time medical sales job, attempt to write my blog at night while I’m half asleep, help friends with a bunch of house/decorating/photography projects, oh yeah and try to be a good mom to my 13-month old, all while my husband travels most of the week for work. Honestly, I’m exhausted. Several weeks ago I did decide to stop watching the news altogether (used to watch it morning and evening). That’s been nice, and I don’t miss it at all. Time to find something else to let go!
Goodness girl! You need some down time for sure! I agree with the news, I feel a lot less stressed on days that I avoid it.
Thank you for this. I just wrote a post titled “Why I Don’t have an Etsy Shop” along these same lines. Thank you for being honest. I need to be reminded sometimes that even the people I admire (you!) are real people! I love visiting your pretty site. Hope you are getting lots of baby snuggles today.
Abbie
http://www.TheEnvelopeKeeper.blogspot.com
I just read your post, you are so right
Taking the time to enjoy your kiddo while they are still “babies” is most definitely the best kind of job!
This is absolutely perfect and so true! Well said! I’m so glad that people are speaking up about this more and more because the Keeping Up With The Jones in this industry is at an ALL time high! We all need these reminders from time to time to keep us grounded!
Ebony
Sparkling Events & Designs
Yes we do
Also, I love your site!
For me I think the biggest problem is that I follow so many of these seemingly picture perfect home improvement/ crafty/ kids education/ everything good blogs. I expect myself to acomplish everything these 100+ blogs are showing off… uhm… Impossible!!!! Of course alot of the blogs are linked up to my Facebook newsfeed, and so I am faced with inadequacy everytime I see FB too. Pinterest used to be for browsing and looking for ideas – now there are just so many ideas, I couldn’t possibly create anything to rival the mountain of talent on there.
I hear ya is what I am trying to say. Thanks for saying it out loud, it makes me feel less alone in my assumed inadequacy
It’s nice to know we aren’t alone for sure!
Yes, that is an age old problem with mothers. In my day and age, a woman was not fulfilled without a career. Then we got to feel guilty about not being at home with the children. It is a quandry of motherhood. The real answer is to do what YOU feel is best for the family unit. It really isn’t about the things, as much as the emotions that you put into it. The children will not remember what you give them, but they will be moldered by the emotions that you put into your life, and in turn your interactions with them. Do what makes you feel good, and don’t compare your beautiful self with others, as they are probably holding your talents up as a bellwether for themselves. Hugz
Thank you so much, Lynne
You have a way with words, everything you wrote really resonated with me. I’m so glad you took the time to leave a comment. You are so right! Emotions will mold our babies and “things” do not matter.
Great post, and totally relatable! I often feel like a “bad” mom or a “failure” to my kids and hubby because I can barely get my life in order since becoming a SAHM. It’s hard work, and I only dream of being able to look “perfectly put together”!
It’s almost 1pm and I’m still in my pajamas, make you feel even better?
I’m so glad you wrote on this. I’m an entrepreneur myself in the area of social media and see this happen all the time. In business, it’s great…you want to be ahead of the Jonses in your area of expertise, but when it overflows to Mommyhood it’s hard on your self-esteem. If you aren’t pinning consistently and ultimately crafty then you’re not doing the best you can. I have a friend who isn’t on any social media (unheard of! in today’s society). She had 4 kids, home schools the older two and I went to her house yesterday. Her school room for her kids was amazing…and I know she doesn’t have pinterst. She took the skills and creativity she has and was inspired by her children….not what someone else did on Pinterest. Thanks for reminding us moms that we’re all normal and not needing to live up to a certain standard.
By the way, love your blog. It’s fabulous.
My natural instinct with friends such as yours is to tell them “You have to start a blog, you’re so talented!” lol It’s so easy to get caught up! Thank you for sharing! And thank you for reading my little blog
Just found this blog after knowing for a while about Pretty Darn Cute designs. I was very excited when I saw this, I cant believe I had not seen it before but the logo sort of called me when I saw it on the TomKat Studio side bar and here I am!:) Beautiful article!
It is true, too many times I find myself thinking that sites like pinterest and facebook interfere with my creative outlet. Seeing so many beautiful things can cloud my artistic vision and give me a sense of uselessness in seeing so many talented and organized people out there. But we gotta keep this state of mind and way of thinking about these sites:) Thanks for sharing your wonderful thoughts:)
Glad to have you here!