The Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth

Here's a glimpse of what last weekend held for us:











Last week I set out on a 5 hour drive with my three boys to visit my brother for a few days. With The Wiggles playing over and over on the DVD player I got lost in my thoughts, I think in an attempt to keep my sanity intact.

I started thinking about other blogs that I read. I had recently run across a post pleading for truthfulness from fellow bloggers, perhaps unintentionally suggesting that some bloggers paint pictures of family life that are not true. I'll admit. I was a little off-put by the notion at first. (Not that I took it personally. I mean I doubt this blogger has ever even seen my blog or read the first sentence about my family meanderings.)

I took offense because I do realize that my writings are very much in "glass-half-full" style. You won't see a post on how two of my three littles came down with some 24 hour bug and were sick most of the first morning we were at my brother's. You will read about what a fabulous visit we had, visiting the zoo, eating picnic lunches at the park, eating out with our new family, receiving stellar hospitality from my future sister. I write about beautiful things. Truthful, beautiful things. I like it that way. I like focusing on the positives rather than the negatives. We have so many tough things to face in the world today. I find that dwelling (and writing) in the sunlight, so to speak, makes me act on positive things and in turn makes me happier. So I'll take my rose-tinted glasses, thank you very much. And I'll wear them proudly.

But if "truth" is what you seek, "truth" is what you shall get. So here it is, folks. The cold, hard, ugly truth. *Deep breath*, here it comes...I'm not perfect. *Gasp!* Shocking, I know! And here I had you all fooled! Ha.

We are perfectly normal and flawed, just like everyone else. We have battles with bedtimes, battles with sharing toys, bumps and bruises, tears and shouting. We get sick (evidence below),

we go to doctors' offices, we get cases of the "mully-grubs" (as my mother told me recently). My house is messy, laundry piles up, toys are scattered everywhere, beds are not made, toilets need scrubbed. (I promise I could SCARE you with pictures of my house at times!) I battle with discipline, I battle with weight, I battle with self-esteem, I battle with balancing work and home, I battle with worry, I battle with money management, I battle with (yes, it's true) Negativity. I battle with all of these things but I do not write about them for one simple reason. I feel like these aren't the things that define me. They do not define who I am, how I parent, how I love my husband and kids, nor are they worth writing about. I do not want to give Negativity one second to sink it's claws into our world. If it takes hold, it is hard to pry off!

So, here's another truth. I like my messy, unorganized, flawed life. I think it's pretty perfect even if it wouldn't be by another person's standards. You have to take your life and own it. You have to own it all--the good and the bad. You have to accept failures, yes, but if you expect them and dwell on them...well, ever heard that life is what you make of it? I anticipate successes and beautiful moments. By writing about them it makes me much more likely to put my writing in to action and actually make them happen. Sure, they may not always turn out like the moment I have dreamed of but I can guarantee you with 100% certainty they won't be as bad as Negativity would have had me believe they would be!

So, we'll put on our old clothes and we'll open the paints. We'll paint pumpkins and yes, even our faces. :) We'll make 5 hour drives alone with three arguing boys to see family. We'll take the fussing and fighting and fit throwing because we know that in the midst of it all something much more beautiful is happening. We are living life. Our perfectly flawed life that is taylor-made for us to either enjoy or despise. I'll choose to enjoy.

Life is hard enough on it's own, without dwelling in the negative. Grab a pair of rose-tinted glasses and see for yourself how great life can be. I can promise you it will look more beautiful, smell more sweet, and taste more delicious. Doesn't mean that there will never be any bad. Doesn't mean there won't be mistakes and fall-outs and fist fights between brothers. But when you have these beautiful moments to hold on to it will rescue you from the worst "mully-grub" moments at just the right time!