Supermom

This person recently left a comment on this post about me being a "Supermom."  Thank you very much! Really.  I know you wouldn't lie:), but I have to admit, I'm slightly less than that as of late.  There was a time where I was a whole lot more "together" and might, might have qualified a bit more for that title.  The above photo is of me from years ago when I just had three girls. (highlighted because what I've learned over the years is that it doesn't matter how many children you have now, it's how much you used to have that has now become "easy.") Anyway, some might say that I was at the top of my game back then.  I was a "single" mom (Richard and I both lost count of how many days he was gone and how many countries he was in), new homeschooling mom, Army Volunteer ... I had spotless house (really!) and my own thriving notecard business.  I even won the bid for the Officer's Spouses' Club official stationary at Fort Bragg.  And oddly enough, I received an email just today from someone who had ordered in the past and wanted to know if I was still in business.  Compared to what many of you produce out there ... these cards aren't jaw dropping, but they were fun and kept me very busy.

Yes, back then I was probably more of a Supermom than I'll ever be again.  The funny thing is that I wasn't even trying and I didn't really care what others thought.  I wasn't trying to compete and I never, ever thought about how "together" I was.  No, I only now think about that and chuckle to myself when I think of all those "friends" I irritated with my successes.  They would LOVE to see me where I am now.  This post is for them and for anyone else who might read this blog and think that I am "perfect."  I am not.  I could direct you to a long list of people who I think are:), but I'm sure even they have their less than perfect days, too.  

This little one, my sweet Olivia, will be turning two in two days.  Richard was gone last year on her birthday and for those of you who were around, you might remember how crazy my summer was ... ending with the school I enrolled my older two in not opening, leaving me to scramble at the last minute to throw together our school year.  Therefore, this sweet baby didn't have a birthday celebration ... not even cake!  I'm telling you, I hit a low point last summer. But that's okay, we are on the rise and I still have two days to figure out what we are going to do this year.  note:  the low point was really low, and we're still rising:)!

The below was Kate's Second Birthday.  Another example of my lowering the bar.  Kate's cake only had the crumb coat:).  There is a good reason, but I'll spare you the explanation.  

I don't know exactly what I'm doing for Olivia, but I will have her cake fully iced.

And one last example of a disqualifying factor for me as Supermom ...

I had this fantastic idea for Parker's birthday last year.  It had something to do with the below photo.  I even had this person volunteer to make her invitations for free.  

I could go on and on, but bottom line, I just couldn't pull is off.  

I'm no Supermom.  At least not in the sense that so many would define it.

I cringe at all of the "mistakes" I have made and at all of the missed opportunities.  I want to live life to the fullest and glorify God in the process, but many times the line between that and being a perfectionist not only is very narrow, but paralyzing for me.  

God is good and He has blessed me with amazing little people who love me even though their cake is not fully iced and even though they didn't have the most spectacular, blog post worthy life all the time.  Many times I just have to remind myself that they don't read blogs and so they think getting to jump through the house over and over and over again on a gloomy, rainy day is just about the coolest thing they've ever done.