So many of these I agree with! And I’m very vocal about the no goodie bag rule! This year we did some pottery painting for daughters 7th and it was great because the goodie was their art !!
100 percent on kids clothes! My boys don’t really care what they wear but my daughter likes to choose her clothes each morning and change outfits multiple times per day. I used to try to get her to wear certain clothes for school and then decided to give that up and everyone is happier! :)
I love your reframe — “You can have everything that matters.” The reality is that you have to say No to a lot of things to get to the life you want, but that gets you to the “so what, everything I care about is in a great place!” state!
I decided to say No to the 4-miler I already signed up for when I was feeling more aspirational or less ambitious about other things like building a part time income. It feels so great to have one less thing to fit… somewhere.
Hi from another mom of a daughter who insists on an Elsa-only wardrobe. At first, I denied it. Then I started bargaining. And I finally accepted my defeat.
I’m a new mom and I’ve had to reckon lately with the idea that I must say no to things and cut things out of my life in order to make space and time for the things that I do care about.
My kids are the same ages as yours and I am the mom NOT playing with them because I’m constantly cleaning/picking up. I’m afraid they’ll start calling me Danny Tanner 🤣
I hate that I’m like this and it (secretly) bugs me when my kids say things like “daddy is more fun.” But (but!) if I let things slide then nothing gets done and I get overwhelmed. Welcome to my brain 🤪🤪🤪
CJ I feel you so deeply (also the Danny Tanner reference lol), at our house I’m the cook/cleaner and Dad is the fun one playing games. It’s tough. I do carve out some time to play but also accepted that I have other special time with them, like walking them home from school and reading before bed. No one can do everything!
I love this Sarah! Thanks for sharing, glad I’m not alone in feeling some of these things you share. We’re about to enter the life stage of school, so I am going to save this to reread when the ‘Keeping up with the Jones’” feeling rises up again 🤷🏼♀️
Allie tbh that’s the one I struggle most of all with, and the one I have to be most intentional about…training my thoughts over time to not compare. It’s a process!
Amen, wrote a very similar post and my favorite thing in the list is giving up cooking! That and folding laundry. I think prioritization is key to surviving this life phase.
We have spent all summer at home, with one three day local road trip, and it’s honestly been so fun! I have a baby born in April so decided to say no to traveling for now. I also live somewhere the weather is amazing in summer, so that helps.
Great post. Kids love downtime. We stayed home all day Saturday. I kept asking my son if he wanted to go do something, but he said he was so happy just to have a day at home!
Elizabeth you’re so right…often I find myself being the one forcing all the activities when they’re happy staying home. It’s okay to just do “nothing”!
So many of these I agree with! And I’m very vocal about the no goodie bag rule! This year we did some pottery painting for daughters 7th and it was great because the goodie was their art !!
Love that Crissy - a take-home that’s not plastic crap lol. We need more of that!
Absolutely
100 percent on kids clothes! My boys don’t really care what they wear but my daughter likes to choose her clothes each morning and change outfits multiple times per day. I used to try to get her to wear certain clothes for school and then decided to give that up and everyone is happier! :)
Just giving in helps so much mentally!
I love your reframe — “You can have everything that matters.” The reality is that you have to say No to a lot of things to get to the life you want, but that gets you to the “so what, everything I care about is in a great place!” state!
I decided to say No to the 4-miler I already signed up for when I was feeling more aspirational or less ambitious about other things like building a part time income. It feels so great to have one less thing to fit… somewhere.
Yes Mizuho! I find that so many of the things on my plate are self-inflicted, and no one else cares if I don’t do them.
That’s such a great lens too — who cares!?!?!? Sometimes it is important that I care, but other times, if no one else cares, then why do it! lol
Hi from another mom of a daughter who insists on an Elsa-only wardrobe. At first, I denied it. Then I started bargaining. And I finally accepted my defeat.
It’s a grieving process.
I’m a new mom and I’ve had to reckon lately with the idea that I must say no to things and cut things out of my life in order to make space and time for the things that I do care about.
It’s a tough reckoning for sure, but also liberating to decide what’s not worth your energy anymore!
My kids are the same ages as yours and I am the mom NOT playing with them because I’m constantly cleaning/picking up. I’m afraid they’ll start calling me Danny Tanner 🤣
I hate that I’m like this and it (secretly) bugs me when my kids say things like “daddy is more fun.” But (but!) if I let things slide then nothing gets done and I get overwhelmed. Welcome to my brain 🤪🤪🤪
CJ I feel you so deeply (also the Danny Tanner reference lol), at our house I’m the cook/cleaner and Dad is the fun one playing games. It’s tough. I do carve out some time to play but also accepted that I have other special time with them, like walking them home from school and reading before bed. No one can do everything!
So true. No one can do it all. We are all doing our best 💛
love this & normalizing that we can’t do it all, but we can be intentional about what we do and don’t prioritize!
YES intentionality is such a perfect word for this!
My daughters are 10 + 12 and I've yet to have goodie bags at any party... and I wish we never received them either!
Callie you pioneered this! I usually let them keep the toys and one treat, then toss the rest of the sugar and any slime. Not in my house.
I love this Sarah! Thanks for sharing, glad I’m not alone in feeling some of these things you share. We’re about to enter the life stage of school, so I am going to save this to reread when the ‘Keeping up with the Jones’” feeling rises up again 🤷🏼♀️
Allie tbh that’s the one I struggle most of all with, and the one I have to be most intentional about…training my thoughts over time to not compare. It’s a process!
Amen, wrote a very similar post and my favorite thing in the list is giving up cooking! That and folding laundry. I think prioritization is key to surviving this life phase.
Yess Michaela love that for you. A life without cooking or laundry sounds amazing lol.
We have spent all summer at home, with one three day local road trip, and it’s honestly been so fun! I have a baby born in April so decided to say no to traveling for now. I also live somewhere the weather is amazing in summer, so that helps.
So wonderful and intentionally chill!
Great post. Kids love downtime. We stayed home all day Saturday. I kept asking my son if he wanted to go do something, but he said he was so happy just to have a day at home!
Elizabeth you’re so right…often I find myself being the one forcing all the activities when they’re happy staying home. It’s okay to just do “nothing”!
I love these. No one is doing all of it all of the time and honestly I'm sure you exhale that you don't keep up with all of these things!