One less battle I have to fight!
My friends and colleagues, Kim and Jason Kotecki, (www.kimandjason.com) often talk about the benefits of challenging the rules that don’t exist. In their “Escape Adultitis” posts http://kimandjason.com/blog/2009-06-11/rules-that-dont-exist.html ) about this topic, you will hear funny examples, see pictures and videos to support the many, silly rules that society, in general, abides by, without thinking too hard about it.
Considering this from a Mom’s perspective…I thought, ‘hmm, I’m not that sure about this, I am pretty creative, what rules do I unconsciously live by?’ And it did NOT take me that long to create my short list:
Meg’s “Mom Rules That Don’t Exist”:
- Kids must wear a legitimate “outfit” everyday and the outfit must match!
- I must eat breakfast food for breakfast.
- Winter boots can not be worn in over- 60-degree days.
- I should cook dinner every night.
- I must sleep on the same side of the bed every night.
- I should be the one to pack lunches.
- If a Mom takes “too” much time for herself…she is selfish.
- Mommy Guilt is a part of motherhood. Just deal with it.
And in an ongoing effort to break these rules that don’t exist…here is what I have done, in a Mom role, in the past few weeks, alone.
Breaking the Rules…again!
- My daughter wears winter boots no matter what the weather. (She is happy and it’s one less battle I have to fight.)
- I just had an Italian Sausage sandwich for breakfast this Monday.
- I don’t always cook. We get creative and even though his schedule is more hectic than mine, every now and then, Daddy cooks.
- Daddy also packs lunches….just because.
- My husband is too much a creature of habit to let me sleep on his side of the bed…but I will keep trying!
- I am gradually growing more and more okay with the fact that in preschool, you don’t have to match every day. My daughter asks about 3x a week, when I ask her to get dressed…”Do I have to match today?” Tomorrow, the answer will be “NO, you don’t!”
- B.S. ….A happy Mommy is a happy family. (Just like a stressed Mommy is a stressed family.) Though it was a playdate we hosted last night, the Moms had more fun…and were happier and more relaxed when it was all said and done.
- Just say no! I am just saying “NO” to Mommy Guilt. Instead I am focusing on the fact that I am doing the best I can…and that is pretty darn good enough for me and my family right now.
What rules are you living by, that really don’t exist? Think of two “rules” you can break this week!
(Feel free to share your experience and comment below!)
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