It’s officially January, and by now your social media newsfeeds are certainly flooded with lofty New Year’s resolutions ranging from dropping 30 pounds to flying to the moon.
And yes, of course, statistics show that 80 percent of resolutions fail by February, but has that stopped the infectious ‘American dream’ of setting totally unrealistic expectations every time the New Year rolls around? Absolutely not.
But what if you decide it is NOT your year to buy into the hype? What if you’re neck-high in the weeds of parenting, work, or stressful life demands and don’t necessarily have the capacity to add one more “to-do” to your already neverending list?
Well, Eliza Morrill of Momstrosity is RIGHT there with you.
Currently in the “lots-of-little-kids-with-lots-of-big-needs weeds,” Eliza has surrendered and marked 2021 as her year to simply survive.
And is that SO wrong?
After reading her painfully relatable Facebook post, you, too, might decide that this is your year to shower yourself in grace rather than new expectations by embracing the beautiful mess that surrounds you.
Read Eliza’s powerful post in full below:
“Here we are again, friends. The brink of a New Year. My newsfeed is full of positive manifestations for the next trip around the sun. Resolutions to run that half-marathon. Cook dinner more often. Hit the gym with regularity. Read.
Most years, I’m right there with them. In my mind, I’ve conjured a list 5 miles long — of all the things I hope to accomplish in the next year. Versions of my best self. Habits to make me a better mother, a better wife, a better friend, and a better fit for these snug jeans.
But this year, I’m laying it all down.
I can’t.
The truth is, I’m in the weeds. I’m in the when-will-my-kids-sleep-again weeds. I’m in the lots-of-little-kids-with-lots-of-big-needs weeds.
I am knee-deep in picky eaters, dirty diapers, temper tantrums, health issues, and repetitive dinners.
This is not my year to run a marathon. This is not my year to drink two gallons of water a day, or to make healthy, home-cooked meal every night, or serve on all of those committees. It is my year to survive.
This is my year to sleep when I can. To give myself grace, always. To embrace the mess.
I think, as mothers, we put a great deal of pressure on ourselves, whether we realize it or not. Small imperfections during the day equate to our shortcomings in our own mind. Messy house? I should clean more. No clean socks? I’m way behind on laundry. Kid acts out in school? I let him watch “Frozen” too often.
We need to stop. I need to stop.
The reality is this: my kids don’t need a mom who looks great in leggings right now. Or a mom who makes individualized quiches for all the kids in class. They need a mom who does her best to love them well — imperfections and all.
So this year, if you need it (spoiler alert: you almost definitely do) — give yourself grace. Some years aren’t meant to be record-breaking. Some years are meant to survive.”
**This post was written by Eliza Morrill of Momstrosity and originally appeared on their Facebook page. Check out more from Momstrosity here!
If Eliza’s post inspired you, be sure to SHARE it with your friends on Facebook!
