I feel compelled to again remind viewers that for every snapshot here that shows life all awash with sunshine and roses, there's one I didn't take that features grumps and bumps. (Yes, friend, it was your use of the word "idyllic" in that email I just read!) Not that we don't have a good life-- we do!-- but it looks more idyllic than the reality because I don't impartially take pictures like a photojournalist.
Give Norman Rockwell a week with us, and he just might run screaming for the hills.
That's okay, right? This is a blog, after all, not a shockingly uncensored documentary of the good, the bad, and the ugly. (Weeeell, sometimes the ugly...)
I give you all license to imagine the other half yourselves because, quite often, it's very unflattering to a certain Mama Bear.
Whenever I've behaved badly and need to make it right with my children, I've found that my "happy" blog is a good reminder and pick-me-up about how wonderful our life really is despite those momentary "bad" times. I like "happy" blogs, but I also appreciate "honest" blogs as well!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if I'm being honest sometimes by not sharing the whole picture. I posted some pictures of flowers around our house and one would think that we had beautiful, thriving flower gardens, but in reality, we have one 3ft. area with pretty flowers and about 40ft. with nothing but mulch. Maybe I should have disclosed that info...! And that's just flowers, not a crazed mama and her wild boys!
I enjoy reading your "idyllic" blog...I can imagine from my own reality with 3 children the other half of your life...keep the positive coming!
what?!!!!! I really think i feel a little....tricked and misused?!
ReplyDeletenot idyllic? I refuse to believe it!
Ohhh,. . . I've seen some pictures that makes our life look pretty idylic. I guess I figure, if pictures can my our life look idylic? They can probably do it for anyone. Even you. ;)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, when you put it on a blog, it becomes something to dwell on (looking at it again in past years, etc, etc) and is it really helpful (to anyone?) to dwell on the Grumpy Mama Bear moments? Sure, they happen, and we don't deny them, and we try to do better every day---but dwell on them?
Of course, you always could do an occaisionally grumpy-Mama post. If the Wren gets a picture of you on the digital camera looking grumpy. Then you can post the picture and say "Look! I was grumpy! and caught on camera by my two-year old besides!!" And then we'll all have to believe you get grumpy sometimes, whether we want to believe it or not. . . .
Idyllic is different than perfect. I was there. Your lives are idyllic.
ReplyDeletehi!! i come and check your blog from time to time and always forget to comment...i love your pictures, writing and your love for your husband and for life! hope youdon't mind if I share in your life a bit by checking into your blog...my oldest 2, Tessa & Lily love to look with me at the pictures of your girls - they always say "Mama they are sooooooo beautiful!!¨And they covet all the exploring youcan do....we are missionaries in Guadalajara, Mexico - so we are citified and MISS the country! We are blessed by your blog and just don't share that enough with you! By the way, we have 2 girls with us whom we are adopting so our blog is by invite only due to privacy, so if you want to be added just let me know! God bless, Susanna
ReplyDeleteKiley,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you commented! I keep forgetting to add your blog to the list I check in on occasionally, and so I've only been doing so when you comment. Now you're added, and I'll keep up more regularly. With three boy-children, I'm sure you know EXACTLY what sort of things go on behind the scenes, or, at least, I hope you do! Otherwise I'm the only mama who isn't always angelic. And your flowerbeds aren't perfect?!?! I don't even have flowerbeds!
Sarah,
Rats. Now you know.
Titi,
I'll have her take that picture.
Dani,
Come now, you saw pieces of other, too!
Susanna,
Yes, please! I'd love to know a bit about you and your family, and thanks for your kind comment! I'm always surprised and happy to learn that people I've never met are reading (non-stalkerish, non-scary people, at least). It's cool to have an electronic thread stretched from here to Mexico, and I'm glad to hear that you enjoy the bits of ourselves on here. It serves, in part, to keep me blogging, as I sometimes feel it's a waste.
In case you need it to add me to your readers, my email is leftymylou (at) gmail (dot) com.
Thanks again for your encouragement!
p.s. We're still townies, though we're not in the city and we live near enough to country to enjoy what it offers. We can't wait to get there, ourselves!
ReplyDeletehey abigail! i added you!
ReplyDeleteps...glad you consider me non stalkerish!! i assure you i am....hope you can catch a glimpse into my world through my blog!