When I first started teaching I handmade a little sign that said “Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.” and hung it in my classroom. I thought it was fitting since I was teaching in a lock down school where many of the students were fighting addictions or abusive pasts.
Later I hung the same sign in my classroom at a junior high where I taught special education. Again I thought it was fitting.
Today that little sign hangs over my sewing table in my family room…and I still think it’s fitting.
The other night we were eating dinner. We were all sitting around the table eating, listening to Simon tell jokes, and laughing. It could have been a commercial for the joys of family meal time. But then Ruth threw a handful of beans at Simon and in the process knocked her plate on to the floor. Then in an effort to save the plate my husband tipped over a glass and Grace fell off her chair. Chaos ensued.
But after the mess was mopped up we finished our meals, read stories, completed homework, gave baths, and tucked everyone into bed. And as my husband and I walked down the hall he turned to me and said, “Tonight was a good night.”
I hadn’t really thought about it—the evening had just been business as usual but he was right—it had been a good night. In fact, it may have even been a wonderful night.
Sure there was a disaster in the middle of dinner and we had to sweep, mop, and vacuum for the second time that day. And yes there were some tears that came from falling off a chair and of course there was the yelling about being pelted in the head by green beans…BUT that only lasted for a small time…AND we all were able to eat a warm meal together and laugh and take clean baths and be safe and have warm pajamas and love each other and….there a million tiny details of all things wonderful that I tend to forget about and take for granted.
Sometimes I want everything to be perfect—I have this image in my head of how I want things to be but rarely, if ever, do things turn out that way…and it’s not for a lack of trying…and I get frustrated with my short comings…and my imperfections….
But sometimes, I have moments of clarity and I can see that things are pretty darn wonderful, even if they aren’t perfect.
And that night after I tucked my kids into bed and ate generic brand ice cream out of chipped cereal bowls while watching MacGyver on Netflix sitting on the couch in between my husband and a pile of laundry waiting to be folded I had one of those moments.
And I thought to myself, who needs perfect when I can have wonderful?
Hope you all have a wonderfully unperfect weekend!
-liZ
PS—The photo above is one that I took while I was photographing Ruth’s tip toe through the tulip dress—it was about this time when Simon was making ugly noises with a balloon, and making the girls freak out that I decided that we had taken enough pictures for the day!
Beautiful post! Love that quote, too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Hahaha. Love that shot. And you are so right. Ofcourse. Thank you for the reminder. We all need that one now and then. xx
liZ, I wish you were my next door neighbor, I know we would be fast friends!!! There are too many times I get caught up in the fleeting catastrophe and loose sight of the enduring sweetness and joy. Thanks for the reminder ;o)
Love this post! Such great wisdom, especially for moms and dads with little ones. Thank you for reminding me to enjoy how wonderful things are regardless of the lack of perfection!
Wonderful. Thank you!
What a wonderful post and reminder to embrace the imperfections because life is oh so wonderful!!!!!
What a great quote. Your post made me smile…thanks!
YES! I find myself agreeing with so many of your thoughts. You said it brilliantly.
Oh- AND I love that quote. My parents named me after the Beatles song “Michelle”, but my middle name, they got from Annette Funicello:)
Love those moments.
~Michelle
You are so cute! I don’t mean to laugh but out of all the pictures I have seen of “Your Life”, it swells my heart to see you’re Family is Wonderful & NOT Perfect! Your children, even when not behaving like complete angels are THEE Cutest! Well, aside from my own that is! Have a Wonderful Sunday!! kweenbee_612@yahoo.com
Beautifully said!
This post is perfect! Wonderfully perfect! The tears started with your husband’s words to you–there is a keeper! Then you saying “who needs perfect when I can have wonderful?” OH my…thanks for the bawl. So often there is a day coming up that is supposed to be special or “perfect”–an anniversary, Mothers Day, etc. I often say you can’t expect that a day you want to be perfect or think should be perfect will. Too much is out of our control and in God’s hands. The day may not be “perfect” but when we are all safe, healthy, fed, had some good and bad moments but all is in order in the end…that is pretty much wonderful! One of my favorite posts liZ. Thank you!
oh what a beautiful post! funny we found ourselves feeling the same way this weekend. we took the kiddos out to dinner and then headed to a sugar on snow/ square dance. it was a little bit of a drive and all of them fell asleep on the way there. of course when we showed up to the square dance we had to wake them up and they were miserable. it took them about 1/2 hour to warm up and stop clinging to us. but after we had we a blast! it was a late night and we didnt get home until 11:30p. at 3am we were woken up by a little girl with a bad case of croup. as we froze our buns outside at 3 in the morning we chatted about our great night. these are the moments that keep me going. these are also the moments that i need to be reminded of when i am having a tough day. have i ever told you how much i love your ps’s? they always make me chuckle:) have a great week!
Thank you so much for this post! I needed it more than you could ever know!
What a fantastic reminder! Life is good!