I am sitting in hubby’s home office on the weathered leather sofa, my legs tucked under me. I look out the French doors into our living room and my eyes glance up at the ceiling. I notice that the gigantic Mylar balloon left over from G’s birthday party a few weeks ago, is floating there. It somehow escaped his bedroom and joined us in the big room where we spend most of our day.
It is a huge, blue “6” and it is shiny and tacky and frankly, an eye sore.
But I don’t mind it.
There was a time when I would have gotten on a stool and taken that balloon down and cut it open so the rest of the helium would go out of it and I could just ball it up and throw it in the trash.
You know, after the kids went to bed.
Balloon, What balloon?
Oh, hmmm, not sure kids, sorry.
*slinks off to make sure balloon remnants are already outside in big trash can*
But nowadays I am trying to let some things slide and not get uptight about huge balloons still clinging to the ceiling.
Or a spilled drink all over the living room floor.
Or a kid tantrum.
Or being a few minutes late.
The next day the kiddo asks me to get the balloon down for him. I do and he cuts it open on his own and laughs and even throws it in the trash himself.
It just goes to show that some things are not worth getting uptight about. They just are not. And that in time many things will take care of themselves.
I am trying to remember that these days.
Now excuse me while I do some light encouraging to clean up the LEGO mess in their room…
p.s. apparently I am also cool with popsicle eating shortly before dinner. Who AM I anymore?!
I wish I could be a little like you.
Although I did allow the last Mylar balloon to hang around a little longer than I’d have liked
You are preaching to the choir, sister! I hear ya. And AMEN!
I am constantly trying to get myself to let things slide a little more. Stop being such a nag. Relax. Don’t sweat the small stuff. And I do so well for a while. I’m so proud of myself. And then, WHAMMO. Crazy, harpy lady is back.
Must work on that some more.
You would not like being in my house then, where we might possibly leave the birthday decorations up until the next party. Did I just admit that? We still have dinosaur tracks in the floor from Erv’s party in March. Ahem.
I definitely try to be as relaxed as I can and there are somethings that just never ever bother me. Unfortunately I lost it last night because my 7 year old spilled ice cream all over my bedspread (don’t ask). I know I over reacted, but I was oh so irritated and could not just let it go. Sigh. Keep on trying, right. Oh and I hate left -over balloons!!!
I have been trying to let things slide and not bug me so much. Right now there is a HUGE lego mess in my son’s room and I am really trying not to bug out about it.
This is a beautiful way to be— the little things just don’t have room in today’s world. There are far more important things to tend to.
The kitchen is really the only thing I cannot ignore because we spend so much time in it. So if it’s dirty, I will take the 10 minutes to clean it and then relax in the less the orderly living room.
I try to let things go and not be bothered by the little things – but I have moments when the little things get to me and I just want everything tidy. These usually happen after I have tidied and the discover within moments that everything is back the way it was.
these little things bother me less and less too. just. not. worth. it. feels better to let go anyway
work in progress!
I’ve had to do this. (Obviously, you’ve seen my house.) I know that I could be completely OCD about keeping everything just so, but then I would also go with out sleep or entertainment or hugs and kisses. Because there is no way that being a working mom I can keep everything together. I just can’t. That’s why I’ve made the decision to “aim low”. One day all of those messes will be gone of their own accord. Until then I’m going to snuggle on the sofa and watch Good Luck Charlie with my kids.
Who am I? My kids had fatty ice cream before dinner last week. And still ate dinner.
This is timely because I got my daughter a red star mylar balloon two weeks ago and it’s just been drooping and skulking all around. TODAY, she asked me to throw it out. So I did.
haha I hear ya. I look around my hosue sometimes and think the pre-kid Kerry would NEVER let this slide! I even cleaned up the house, fully, wasted and stumbling before I would go to bed after we hosted a party.
But you are so correct, things take care of themselves in time.
I’m also trying to let loose a little bit! The being late thing gets my anxiety going every time. I try to remember that life goes on and we really just need to enjoy the ride while we can. Lovely reflection.
You are an evolved woman and you are damn inspiring.
I seem to have the opposite problem…I let everything slide.
I could probably stand to go the other way a bit more often–My house is a disaster and we haven’t been “on time” since the year 2006.
This is awesome. Thanks for the reminder. And way to go for working on being a little more chill. Our kids are only kids once, right?
It’s funny I find the more I let things go the easier of a day we have. Like the other day I wasn’t feeling well so I let him play with the pile of sheets I had wanted to wash. He had a great time and I had some time to drink my tea.
It’s so funny that you posted this today! My husband JUST commented that the longer I am a mom, the more chill I become about things like a few toys out or a balloon or two lingering after a party. Sometimes, it’s better to look at the big picture and not focus on those little “imperfections”, because really? someday those #6 balloons will no longer float and dance in our house, but the houses of our children. And we will miss it.
This is something I’ve really been trying to work on. Having a baby around kind of enforces it whether I remember to or not! Such good advice.
Oh man, I’m a little too good at letting things go. I let it go and let it go and let it go and then have a moment when it drives me crazy and we do a big clean up. But honestly I think you are so right, some things are not worth getting up tight about and they will work themselves out.
I am a very relaxed mama. TOO relaxed!