I am so SO excited to share this with you guys today! There really is nothing quite like a sister and for better or worse, Maria and I are stuck together. We have shared our years and I mean YEARS of bickering and fighting over clothes, friends, our parent’s love…you name it! Actually, mom and dad if you’re reading this, we are SO sorry! For all the headaches we caused you & all the arguments you had to break up. You guys are the true MVPs!
But…back to what I was saying earlier. Maria and I have gone through literally every season of life together and most recently, we’ve been so lucky as to start the season of motherhood together. You’ve heard me say it before & you’ll hear me say it again, being a mama is HARD freaking work & it is such a relief to have someone like your sister to cry with, vent to and commiserate with over a glass of wine. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve called or texted her asking her opinion or double checking that I’m doing everything right. Bless her heart, she hasn’t begun to ignore my incessant questions (not yet anyway)!
So today, I’m handing over the reins and letting her talk about the “NEED” to keep up with the Joneses, or in this case, the Bravermans.
Let’s be real, if you have seen Parenthood you know just how AMAZING the Braverman family is. And as amazing as any family is (Kardashian, Kennedy, Jones EVEN the Bravermans) you know that the grass may SEEM greener but that isn’t always the truth.
It’s especially difficult this time of the year to not compare ourselves or our families to others. You see the picture-perfect Christmas card and you immediately think, “Ugh, why can’t my kids NOT pick their nose in 12 out of the 15 family pictures we just took? Sweet guys, thanks for narrowing down my options to three photos!”
Or there’s that Mrs. Perfect Mom who coordinated all of her kids wrapping paper and even went over the top to MAKE her own bows (because store bought bows are SO 2008). I should also clarify, that if that is you as a mother, HIGH FREAKING FIVE, because that is amazing and if it is what brings you joy, then DO IT! I, however, am not that mom.
My point is not to put down other moms, my point is to build yourself up for YOUR triumphs & strengths. You are an amazing mom regardless of how many presents are under that tree or how amazing your tablescape looks on Instagram. Your worth is not defined by a picture or the amount of money in your bank account.
Every family is different and every family has their own highs and lows. They may not always show that or plaster it all over social media but it is the honest to goodness truth.
As much as I wanted to stick to my minimalist goals and only get my kids the four list (something they want, need, wear and read) I blew that before WAY Thanksgiving! I find joy in giving and that may look like grabbing coffee for a friend, giving my kids presents or simply writing my husband a love note. I love to give and that is my heart.
I hope you give yourself some grace this holiday season. Life is hard enough without trying to keep up with unrealistic goals. Find your joy & embrace it, and encourage it in others regardless of how it looks.
Grit & Grace Blog 