I think at some point we all try to be perfect at something....the perfect parent, perfect employee, perfect spouse, the perfect homemaker. We want to do everything right, be everything to everyone and keep our homes sparkling clean all at the same time. And at times we succeed.
I know I fall into this trap....it's easy to do. Until I stop and think about all the reasons why things don't have to be always sparkling and free of flaws. Because it's impossible, and exhausting and not real.
This is the hardwood floor in my daughter's room. We had to get through carpet and about a million staples to get to it. And when we did, it wasn't perfect. There were holes.....lots of holes. And a huge scratch right in the middle. We could have filled it in, tried to make it at least appear perfect. Instead we chose to leave it alone. I don't know how it got there but it's part of our home's history and as long as we live here, it will be left as it is.... flawed.
So when my house looks like this....
full of dust and completely imperfect, I'm going to cut myself a break.
I don't have to be perfect, and neither does my house.
26 comments:
Michelle, this is a hard but important lesson to learn. We had furniture in our bedroom that was my dream furniture. I cared for it impeccably for years. When we were gone once, a hail storm came and our 77 pound lab actually jumped on my dresser. The damage is really bad and irrepairable. I was so upset at first but my husband said, "This is just part of the story of our family." I will never forget that wisdom and that chosen way of looking at it!
Very nice way of looking at things Michelle. Great post tonight.
We live in the desert so when I dust the furniture, two days later it's covered in thick dust again. It drives me batty and I am NOT a perfectionist when it comes to housekeeping. So I wipe things down when people are coming over but most of the time I just live with it.
amen!
rachel
I agree!!! I am 8 1/2 months pregnant, and been told to sit and relax. With two toddlers, how do us moms do this? So I tried to, and failed miserably, now my downstairs looks like a different home... and Im suffering,exhausted, today! Why cant we just relax, and give our selves a break? Love this post, just what I needed!!!
I've always felt like perfect anything wouldn't be too comfy and welcoming. The floor is beautiful and you were so right for leaving it like that.
Great post girl and so true...just about being humane...Hugs and smiles to you dear friend...Gl♥ria
Amen to that. I have struggled with this quite a bit but I try to remind myself that my kids will only be young once, and so if it means skipping some cleaning to play with them or read to them or do something crazy and spontaneous, I try and do it. I know that those kinds of things create memories and no one will look back and cherish the perfectly clean, perfectly decorated house. :)
Hallelujah! ME too! I have learned the older I get that it isn't all about perfection:) Have a blessed day!
Thank you for your sweet words about my Binky boy. Hope you have a good day.
I have really been learning to embrace the imperfect. Who wants to live an a size 0 airbrushed house?! Loved this post.
Amen, Michele! This is so true. I'm older now and have slowed down, but when I was a young mother I had the idea I had to be a Super Mom - doing everything and doing it perfectly. As I've gotten older I realize living life is more important than dust free tables! Loved this post! I've got some of those little imperfections on my furniture and now when I look at them I think of the day my son was so little and had his pencil sawing away on the side of my brand new dining room table! Today I look at that and just smile.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia
I prefer a home with imperfections. It proves that LIFE happens there. Scratches on furniture...a stain on the rug...a layer of dust on just about everything simply proves that you're doing more LIVING than cleaning and THAT is perfect!
p.s. your home is beautiful!
What a great post!
Great attitude. I call all the imperfections that are a result of our living in a house 'patina,' and it helps a lot.
And, I have a story similar to your first commenter. Our dog of many years ago put a good sized scratch in the dining room buffet. My husband was unhappy about it a the time. And, that upset me. But, now, I look at it and remember a dog who was full of life and very loved.
Amen to that!
I fall into the "perfect" trap sometimes but then I remind myself we actually 'live' here it's not a show home.
Have a great day :)
I so agree
great post!
SArah
Okay, so neither of us is perfect! Great minds think alike, huh?
I totally agree. I think all of us who like to decorate our homes want it to look like a page in a magazine all the time, but we actually LIVE in our magazine picture, and so dust, and spilt cereal, and cat hair, and mud from the comings and goings of our family happen. Sometimes I forget the Living in "Country Living" Thanks for the reminder.
Good for you!
I've noticed myself, when I let things go, I am much happier!
And I no longer have a need of pristine in my life, in fact, I find pristine irritating!
ENJOY!
All the best,
Eileen
Definitely know the feeling.
And I hear you on the floors. They are 47 years old and far from perfect. We could have them refinished, but why? So I can constantly worry about knicks & scratches?
I love this philosophy. And being real, and real with each other, allows us to experience life so much more richly!
yay for you! perfectionism is a burden.
Isn't it funny how hard we try to be perfect and nothing in life is perfect and that's o.k. Why can't we accept that. I have to remind myself when I get to out of control trying to control everything!
Amen
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