Say "NO" to Blogs!

 

                                                              

I know, I know ~ the irony, huh? 

But, seriously. No more blogs, moms. No more parenting websites or Pinterest. No more Facebook groups. We need to unite as moms and just start saying no! 

The problem? 

Well, I don't know about you but here is the majority of what I see:

100 Things Your Daughter Should Learn Before She Goes to College

100 Things to Teach Your Son Before He Becomes A Man

9,000 Ways to Teach Your Child Character

Why You Should Never Leave the House

Home Cooked Meals and How You Too Can Provide One Every Night

How to Make Your Crazy Toddler Normal Again

Teach Your Children to ...............Do Anything and Look Gorgeous Doing It. 

Okay, okay - you see where I am going with all this? Now, don't get me wrong. There is a lot of information out there that is so incredibly helpful. But, more often than not, it is simply overwhelming and brings you down instead of encouraging you. 

I mean, 100 Things Your Daughter Should Know Before She Goes to College? Come on moms! We do not need to read stuff like that! Instead of wasting our time stressing over whether we will remember to teach our (currently 5 year old) daughter to change a tire is ridiculous. And, of course we are going to teach our sons to respect women, to be patient and courageous. To be men of integrity. 

We have our own character and integrity, and we need to start trusting it. Instead we browse all these wonderful parenting blogs, helpful websites and overzealous Facebook groups. And, don't even get me started on Pinterest! We need to stop. 

Now, I am not saying that when we run into a specific problem that we shouldn't seek help, of course we should. But, lets first look to books, other normal, down to earth friends and maybe - oooh - just maybe moms who have made it through to the other side! Now there is a wealth of information and encouragement! 

See, we all struggle with making sure we are remembering to teach all the right things ((um, homeschool mom here - you can't get more "struggle" than that!)) but we waste our time on sources that only make us wish we were doing more. On places that make us think that most moms have it together. That most moms actually cook a real, home cooked meal 6 or 7 times a week. 

** disclaimer** IF YOU ACTUALLY DO THAT, DO NOT TELL OTHER MOMS. CUZ, WE DON'T*****

We waste our time browsing sites that will help us "get organized" but instead make us look around our disaster zones wondering where we went wrong. Oh Pinterest - I love you and hate you. I love the fact that you have shown me perfection is, by some weird soul, somewhere on earth - achievable and yet I and hate you for the same. 

Guess what moms? 

Your toddler will totally be normal again - when they turn 25 and have their own baby. 

Your house will be clean and beautiful again - and you will want to run from the quiet that engulfs you. 

Your children will learn character - by watching YOU. 

Your sons and daughters will learn everything they need to know by the time they leave, and if they don't?? They will call home to ask. 

And, finally - peanut butter and jelly is totally fine for dinner at least twice a week, as long as there is love and conversation around the table. 

Come on moms, jump off this crazy "Read my Blog" roller coaster (um, clearly there are exceptions......) and come back to the reality of your own, individual family. We need to stop focusing on if we are doing it right and just start trusting ourselves and enjoying the few, precious years we have with our little ones. 

So, join with me and say no to all these wonderful websites, blogs and articles that are not encouraging! 

Instead, call a dear friend, read an age old, trusted BOOK, or just talk with someone who has survived this whole parenting thing! 

 

Good luck today moms, and remember - we are all in the same boat, struggling with the same things! 

But, these years are short and your littles will make it through just fine, whether you are a perfect mom today or not!