Meet Califf Creations: A Gloriously Flawed Mother
I am the mother of a wonderful little boy who is two-years-old with another boy on the way. Today I woke up overwhelmed, feeling overworked, underappreciated and useless. I had to face my day off center and frantic. This is never a good way to begin a new day, especially when you need to be patient caring for two crazy little ones! What do I do when I feel off like this?
The honest answer is that I do nothing.
I push through, making my feelings worse until I can put the boys down for a nap and try to re-center myself. Perfection is not a word that describes me!
This all started last night with feeling alone and more than just a little crazy. Right when I was feeling close to the tipping point, my son decided to head bump me square in the same eye he had nearly poked out the previous night. So, of course, I started to cry. I mean, it hurt! The pain, however, wasn’t the only reason tears began to flow. I felt so defeated because, let’s face it, being a parent is hard.
A mother is supposed to be strong and resilient, yet loving and kind
We are expected to maintain a perfectly clean home, feed our children all organic homemade foods, nurture their emotions and creativity, yet still be firm and set boundaries so they aren’t “spoiled”. Somehow we are supposed to do all this while still maintaining our own personal health and relationships with our partner, family, and friends.
I said it before and I will say it again, I am nowhere near perfect.
I am gloriously flawed. In the past, I have let that get me down by thinking that I’m not doing enough. My head would tell me, “you can always do more”. This is the beginning of my journey to simplicity, happiness, and freedom. No more thinking that I need to do more. Instead, I want to think of everything I do and know it is enough because I did the best I could.
Nobody tells you when you first become a mother about how much pressure you’ll feel. How you’ll constantly feel like a failure, like the only one who is feeling that way. The secret is, ALL parents go through this! you are not alone. So, while sorting through my emotions, I came to a decision. In order to save my own sanity, and possibly even save some other parents’ sanity, I decided to share the nitty-gritty of parenting. I will not shy away from talking about how the temper tantrums make ME feel, along with how I deal with them and calm the kids down. I’ll share the good, the bad, and the in between, how I keep myself and my family healthy and happy. I’ll share how I integrate creativity and imagination into all aspects of our lives from crafting to finding time to exercise to hiding veggies so that picky toddler doesn’t know he is eating them. There will be laughter, tears, arts and crochet, recipes and cooking, and a whole lot of insanity (because let’s face it, that’s parenting). This is my journey and, like me, it is gloriously flawed and wonderfully inadequate.
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30 Comments
Jenny
Very real and wonderful post. It’s not easy, is it…the whole parenting thing?.. especially when they are so young. It sounds like you are headed in the right direction.
Kat
Thank you so much. Means a lot to me.
Kylie
This post is awesome! All parents go through patches of thinking they are failing or not doing enough. I know I have. I had a patch as recent as yesterday. Sometimes you need to be reminded that their are people out there just like you! Thank you!
Kat
Thank you! I think it’s so important for us mothers to join together and relate to each other.
Angel
This is a wonderful post! I think many moms need to read this!
Kat
Thank you! It’s hard to remember that we are not alone
Caitlin
Oh my gosh. My almost 2 year old head butted me in the face today and I almost cried too. I’m so glad I just read this because I was questioning if I’m raising some kind of future violent killer! Great post, I needed it!
Kat
Thanks! It’s totally normal!!! Glad you could relate
Holly Lasha
Motherhood is definitely messy…but worth it!
Kat
I agree!
Emily G
I am only 5-months in and parenting is definetly the hardest thing I’ve ever done/will do. There is so much love and emotion. I think you really captured how many moms/parents feel. Thank you for your honesty! I also feel defeated sometimes and it’s nice to know other mommas feel the same way!
Kat
You’re not alone! We should be trying to build each other up. That’s what I’m trying to do!
Allie
It’s freeing to accept that no one is a perfect parent. It relieves the pressure m, a bit. I think being honest and sharing the nitty gritty makes you so relatable and real and that’s really what people need. Thank you for sharing!
~Allie @ livelovemess.com
Kat
Thank you for your nice words!
Jasmine
HELLO!! I read this and realized I know you! Well virtually anyway, we are both part of the cohosts photo challenge on Instagram, I didn’t realize you had a blog, how fun! I love this introductory post by the way, sounds like it will be beneficial for so many moms.
Kat
Hi! Haha. Welcome to my blog and thank you for the nice comment!
Lauren
Real is the best way to be. People can see through the perfectly fake personas that are all too often posted on social media. Good for you!
Kat
Thank you! Too many people mask the real. I think it’s better to let it shine!
Sara
Motherhood-messy but worth it, right? Enjoyed your thoughts.
Kat
Thank you. And 100% worth it in my opinion
Alexis
Most people don’t see the behind the sences and how much mothering, especially if you’re doing it alone, can take a toll on you! Your amazing!
Kat
Thank you!
Jenn Pohlman
I think every mom can and should relate to this! We have so many expectations, and a lot of those contradict each other. There’s that saying ‘it takes a village…’ because one person cannot handle this all on their own – and stay sane. I love your honesty – it’s well overdue that we embrace the struggles and relish in the happiness because it’s all a part of raising littles.
Kat
Thank you! Too much pressure has been put on moms. Time for us to speak out and be ok with asking for help.
Teri Moore
I just felt this in my bones. A whole nation of moms just shouted “Amen!” collectively.
The good news is that we’re all feeling the same way. The bad news is our society wants us to.
I bet you’re kicking tail at momming. The world could stand to ease up a bit is all. xoxo
Kat
Thank you! We do the best with the tools we have right? Social media doesn’t helo with expectations…but if we learn to recognize that people only share the good, it helps
EscapeWriters
You are strong..as you express all things so honestly…for first time parent it’s hard as such you are overwhelmed with love and pressure to be perfect.
Kat
Thank you! I appreciate that. It can be so hard to be accepting of oneself!
brittney
This is so real. I never thought I’d feel so much pressure as a mom..then you also have guilt over things.. but its good to keep it all in perspective. that is what I try to do!
admin
It’s crazy how we put so much pressure on ourselves! Everyone has flaws, embrace them and you’ll be so much happier!