As much as I'd love to be a bigger part of my son's school and help plan the Halloween festival and throw fundraisers and attend field trips, I just can't/don't/won't. Any of those work, really.
There was a time when I tried to DIY everything. I tried making my own granola bars and homemade pasta from scratch. I attempted making paint from 3 ingredients and scoured Pinterest to find the best ideas for Halloween, all while contemplating how I'd be the ultimate mom.
It wasn't long before I had to break it to myself. Girlfriend, you just aren't good at this stuff. Go buy some damn paint from the store, pick up some spaghetti noodles for a dollar and save your sanity!
One time, I signed up to be a volunteer. After a year of saying no, I said "Yes, sign me up for Thursday Folders!". I happily went home and told my husband, my mom, my best friend all about my new responsibility and how I was finally a mom who had her shit together. Well, fast forward to Thursday. I filed those papers proudly and went on with my day. But then, I got sick the following week and had to bail and then there was a death in the family, and then my kid got sick. And I finally realized that I'm not very reliable. Well......I am, when it comes to my motherly duties. But I have to spread myself out between 3 kids, 2 dogs, and my husband.
I just can't run myself into the ground trying to be the "perfect mom". To my kids and my husband, I am perfect. I take care of everything they need. If anything they complain more when I have overwhelmed myself with excess responsibilities and unnecessary home projects that stress me out.
As hard as it is to accept the fact that I will never be like PTA club leader. Cheryl, I also have to remind myself that I'm happy and have a full tank. Work smarter, not harder. Over extending yourself is never the answer. I can confidently tell my friends, family, and my son's teacher that I am unreliable or unable to commit to a weekly volunteer position for a year. This keeps my sanity because I'm not signing up for anything I won't be able to follow through with. And this creates more respect when you're straight up.
My Pinterest days are over, well, almost. But DIY is DEAD.......(For Now)
Anyone else with me? I'd love to know! Leave a comment!
xoxo Patty
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