"You do realize some women manage to work full time AND cook while pregnant? And some of them have other kids, too! How hard is it to toss cream of mushroom soup into the crockpot with some random other crap and call it a "meal"? Crystal Paine (Money Saving Mom) is 40+ weeks pregnant with 2 little girls, is still blogging, still twittering AND still cooking.
You are an embarrassment to working mothers, and women in general."
Okay, so several things could be said here. :) I would like to start though, by reminding moms not to size themselves up against other moms. If you feel like you have to do it all because someone else is doing it all, please be encouraged and know that you can take a deep breath and do only what YOU are being called to do. If you feel like you are a failure if you aren't working 40 hours, keeping up a blog, having a perfectly picked up house, spraying on makeup before the hubster comes home, and lighting a candle over dinner each night then PLEASE give yourself a break! Crystal Paine, in particular, is an inspiration and I thank her regularly for the way she has inspired moms. I applaud her for being as efficient as she is. Her blog has gone from a hobby to a full time job and she is marvelous at it. Our blog is still a hobby, and not producing (even remotely) that kind of income. There were days when I was staying up very late to post pictures and I had to ask myself, "why am I doing this?" I needed a break. I was continuing to post just to avoid people leaving comments like the one above. I would HATE for anyone to call me "lazy" or "an embarrassment to women!" so I kept posting. Finally, after admitting where we each were at (I will spare you all the details, although between the three of us: battling depression, morning sickness, and not being home for days at a time is among them) we all said, "You know what? We all need a break. Let's take one. We'll jump back when we can do the blog and not have it be at the expense of our own families, and ourselves.
Fellow moms, are you feeling beaten down? Take time to pour into your spirit and do not let other moms work you down and make you feel small when you don't measure up to the expectations they are placing on themselves. Your situation is unique, just like everyone else. We are all on our own unique journey.
I would like to end with a verse that was in my Bible Study this week.
"Blessed are the merciful, because they will be shown mercy."
Matthew 5:7
Thank you to the ones who have shown us mercy at this time.
