What the picture isn’t telling you.
I took this picture today because I thought it was a great representation of my current battle with perfectionism. At face value it looks like a lovely little Saturday afternoon. The picture of perfection that social media drives us to post.
But what this picture doesn’t reveal is that I’m wearing two layers of clothing even though it’s 20 degrees out because my Mother’s Day present was the gift of strep throat and an ear infection. And my kids who look like they are playing nicely together? They are actually fighting. Inside, my house looks like it’s been hit by a tornado with piles of laundry waiting to be folded. My husband who has been trying to parent for both of us, just exited the frame to help deal with a building issue at our daycare.
I’ve spent many years trying to create the perfect picture. Trying to do everything right, trying to make everyone happy. It took burning out to recognize the toll it was taking on not just my mental health but on my family. Reversing years of bad habits hasn’t been easy either. It is hard work everyday. I have had to get comfortable with prioritizing my needs. even when it makes other people unhappy (and it has!). After far too many years of living for everyone else, I know that this is what I have to do. I choose progress over perfection any day.
