Letting Go Of Perfection

I am a perfectionist.

It's true.

I love when things are nice and neat in their place.

I love to take time on my appearance to make sure I look nice.

I love when my house is spotless.

I have to have an even number of ice cubes in my drink.

I can only eat M&M's by the handfuls in even numbers.

(Okay, well, actually, I'm more OCD. Or some might say anal retentive. Or a little cray cray. Let's not split hairs, people!!)

It's difficult to do these things when you are married and work full-time.

But, I did it.

Now that I have kids, well, it's gets a bit more challenging to do.

I mean I could have a spotless house, look immaculate and continue to obsess over the amount of ice in my glass. But then I'd have kids who are ignored and I'd be a narcoleptic because I never got any sleep.

Wait a minute! Did someone say narcozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Sorry! I dozed off.

Bwahaha!

However, it does bring up a serious question. What are we willing to sacrifice in the pursuit of perfection? What are we willing to move to the bottom of the list so we can move our idea of what needs to be perfect to the top? What is perfection really?

Yesterday, the boys and I hung out and did nothing in particular. We had breakfast with my mom, then we ran a couple of errands. While we were out, the boys got this cute Melissa & Doug ice cream play set. They loved it! We played ice cream shop all day long.

Their little faces smiling as they served me ice cream and as we pretended to eat the ice cream. Our smiles soon turned into laughter as I couldn't help but pretend to nibble on their bellies for something sweeter. In turn, the boys wanted to pretend to eat my belly too.

Laying on your back looking at your after baby belly is not your most flattering look. Trust me.

But, you know what. That's okay.

My sweet boys don't care if I have a flabby belly. They also don't care if my hair looks amazing or if these jeans make my butt look good. They also don't mind one bit if the house is a wreck.

What do they do care about is that someone will play with them. That someone will listen to them when they have something to say. That someone will be there to give them a hug when they have skinned their knee. That someone can reassure them that the first day of school will be great. That someone can help them make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch when they are hungry. That someone can read them 'Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site' before tucking them in at night.

These are the things that are important to my children.

And in looking at back at yesterday, when we were playing ice cream shop, smiling and laughing rolling around on the floor, THAT was perfection.