.jpg "blog53")
dear Mikki and Katie…
as your mom, i feel it imperative that i tell you one thing about myself that i am sure you have already figured out in your short 6 and 3 years on this planet. ready for it? i am AWFUL at keeping things in perspective. awful. this summer has been filled with nothing but examples of this obvious fact and/or personality deficit.
{just a sample of things that might send me over the edge are as follows…}
the dishes not done by 3pm, the fact that laundry is piled up in the cellar and we might have to go buy a whole new wardrobe tomorrow if i don’t get to it, shoes on the wrong feet, the cat knocks over a glass of water, crayons braking, i forgot to buy milk at the grocery store twice…in the same day, i didn’t get all the editing i wanted to get done today {or ever!}, noggin seems to be out for some reason {a near epic tragedy if you ask me}, the cake fell, you both got dirty playing in the sand box when you decided to combine the pool AND the sand to make a ‘faux beach’ in the back yard, i forgot to bring my lucky hair tie to my session {yes…i have one…}; i get upset over the fact that i get upset at everything and that upsets me more….the list goes on {and on…believe me}.
there might not be hope for me girls, as i can feel the last shreds of my sanity dissolving away in the dish soap i am using to get the chocolate milk out of the fibers of my most precious couch that i have had since before i met your father….but alas, there MIGHT be hope for you. my advice: frame every so-called catastrophe with this question: “in five years, is this REALLY going to matter? ”
the answer will almost always be………..no.
no..it doesn’t. not the dishes or the laundry, or the editing or the back yard beach, or even the spilled chocolate milk {because by then, i might get a new couch…yay!!}
deep breath…..{and scrubbing}….and 5 years of perspective.
all my love darlings,
mommy
p.s: daily mantra: concentration is the ability to think about absolutely nothing when it is absolutely necessary…{ray.knight}
p.p.s: i love my couch…no more milk in the living room.
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
show hide 28 comments
you had me laughing Mandy. especially the p.p.s. priceless. i always love what you have to say and the way you say it
I know this is for your girls, but I so needed this today.
Hey Amanda, don’t worry, I am the SAME way – in fact I really am OCD to the max – hard to believe, I KNOW. I especially love the part about stressing out because you can’t stop stressing out. Here’s to trying to implement the “in five years” method more and the worrying one less. (P.S. Katie gets more GORGEOUS in every picture you take! I can’t believe it, what a beauty!!!)
Yes-so that is why I am here looking at the pile of laundry in front of me…little things after all-thanks for the moment of sanity!
I enjoyed reading your blog so much. Unfortunately, now I am reminded that I must go do the dishes, laundry, and make the bed.
It was fun to read.
I enjoyed reading this and that photo is GREAT ++
LOVE it
Needed this today!!!
These are wonderful photos and they are a great document of your letter! I enjoyed reading this, thanks for sharing!
Oh so true!!
Beautiful words. Thank you.
I’ve missed the whistles, and am so glad that I read this one. I’ve always tried to keep a long-term perspective; sometimes it is the only way to keep one’s sanity. There are so few things that will truly matter in five years time…even in 5 months time!! So glad to see you recognizing that and working on embracing it. It is a slippery concept, so don’t worry if it gets away from you occasionally. Love this shot of Katie, with her gorgeous blue eye being the sole punch of color in the photo.
Oh so love coming to read your blog. Inspiring as always and oh so true!
So true, and so wonderfully timed! Thanks!!
Love the shots but enjoyed reading just as much.
love it! thanks for sharing!
LOVE, you are so so good at capturing the essence of childhood. i love reading your new posts on my bloglines!
I so enjoy reading your posts! I like the chocolate milk PS
So beautiful Mandy… as always
Love your letters to the girls and can completely relate to this particular one.
oh the simple yummy goodness of chocolate milk, ahh to be a kid again! This is just dreamy, beautiful!
Beautiful as always! I always enjoy your Wednesday Whistles.
Awesome photos, chocolate milk is such a treat in our house too! And I feel you on the “don’t sweat the small stuff”. I seem to freak out over the tiny things too. Maybe because it is something we can actually control so we are mad at ourselves that we didn’t?
Who knows, but I loved the post!
The great thing is that you realize that the milk won’t matter in 5 years but the memory you captured will. I wish I could express the way you do.
A good reminder for me today. Your right in five years none of the craziness will matter. But your photo here and memory will live on! I so need to find me a lucky hair tie!
awww, loved reading this!
Mandy you are so talented!!! You inspire me!
So precious! You are a great writer and photographer.