With a baby on one hip, and a laundry basket on the other

         Isn’t that a fun blog title? I mean really, I feel like I should follow it up with some kind of witty comment about how a baby and laundry represent the defining aspects of my life at this point. It’s not nearly as glamorous as all that. In truth, what it represents is every mother’s struggle.

         Here, let me explain. Thor was not willing to be put down all day, for anything. So, the options were listen to him scream or carry him around. I’ve been told as a mother I should not let my babies cry while we do something so trivial as laundry, or preparing dinner (or really, making a clean spot on the counter so we can prepare dinner). We should spend that time with them, making memories, laughing, and posting cute selfies of us for Instagram. Laundry can wait.

        Okay, here’s the thing, I agree with all that (even the selfie part, I’ll explain later), but I believe the same people who would tell me to make memories would also judge me behind my back for sending my kids to school with dirty pants and no socks. So where is the balance?   How do I decide what is more important: being with them or taking care of them?  

          I’ve struggled with this balance since day one as a mother, and honestly, I have no idea if I’m keeping an even balance or not. I know that wasn’t helpful, but it’s the truth, I really don’t.  This is another one of those areas that I feel like lots of mothers try to fake. They try to look like all of there domestic duties are easily fulfilled and they have extravagant amounts of time to dedicate to legos and tea parties.   

        What I do, and what I would encourage you to do, is ignore everyone else. It doesn’t matter what their house looks like, or what they do with their kids. God did not put you in that home, or make you the mother of those kids. He gave you your own kids to nurture and care for, and sometimes the time laying on the floor surrounded by plastic dinosaurs and baby dolls is the best thing for your kids. Other times it’s letting them play alone while you clean a bathroom. The main thing is remembering to allow yourself the freedom to sit and play with your kids, because they really do grow up fast (and they don’t care if their pants are dirty).