An acceptable level of chaos

I’ve been a bit fragile since the craziness of building work even though things have settled and returned to ‘normal’. I think though I seem to have developed unrealistic expectations of what ‘normal’ is. I have lost sight a little of what is really important. I’m on an impossible quest to excel at everything – work, parenting, home making, discipling, and falling short at every turn making me well a bit miserable. Also passing on these expectations to my kids like shouting at them for spilling a cup of milk and other minor mistakes. And finding any criticism amplified in my mind or comments taken out of context.

I attended a Care for the family event this week called “A mind of their own” – I highly recommend (www.careforthefamily.org.uk/events/tourevents/a-mind-of-their-own/)! But one of the things that was said which is coming to me as I write this was its ok to tell our kids its fine to be ordinary. They talked about how society / social media tells us we can be famous, extraordinary, perfect and that’s actually a big burden to carry. Somehow this mindset has crept in and I need to step back and realise what the real quest should be – which is not to be perfect or excel at anything but to follow Jesus who moulds us into the best we can be. Among many, one tip was when all else fails have a sense of humour.

I feel I’ve lost my easy going nature a little bit. I think there is an acceptable level of chaos that I can cope with and it was tipped over my limit and now I’m trying to find my way back to it. Where its ok if a child does a poo on the landing and then steps in it or I arrive at parents evening late or the tooth fairy had a particular busy night (this will not happen again – the disappointment was unbearable!) … and to celebrate little wins (www.meandmy-four.com/post/little-wins) Also taking time to myself – I’ve neglected my running at mo and the bike’s been stuck in the garage.

Its been half term this week and I’ve had time to take a breather from work and have some quality time with Harry and Lucy. Its given me a bit of perspective. So going into this next half term I want to stop chasing perfect and go back to pursuing Jesus and when its all going belly up have a good laugh!