5 Things I Absolutely DON’T Do Anymore as a Mom

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5 Things I Absolutely DON’T Do Anymore as a Mom | Columbia SC Moms BlogOnce I became a stay-at-home mom I thought I would become some super crafty, homemade making, everything is awesome mom. Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking either. It was this dreamy notion like all the ‘free’ time I had while on maternity leave.

It wasn’t long before I realized I couldn’t do everything nor did I want to. Some things just weren’t me and I really had to stop pretending that they were a part of my make up. So, I began setting boundaries, realizing my limitations and freeing myself of all the things I thought I should do.

Here are a few things I discovered that I don’t do and what I do instead:

I don’t bake from scratch.

The flour, the rolling of dough, the stack of measuring spoons and dirty bowls…I just can’t with it all. Sure, I have great intentions and recipes, but without fail, about a third of the way through the process, I think “why?” Instead, I know where to buy tasty, fancy baked goods. As a bonus, if I need something simple, I know how to buy a box and add three ingredients.

I don’t throw amazing birthday parties.

I mean I have before, but that was like three kids ago. I remember how everything including the food revolved around some glorious theme. My child may have even had a shirt displaying his age. Long were those days, but do you know what I do well? I know how to take a few kids to a fun place or have a simple pool party. I can order a hot pizza and you guessed it, purchase a cake from a local bakery. These days if you see my child with their age on their shirt, you can bet it is a hand-me-down. And kudos to me for finding it in time for their birthday!

The year I threw a Scooby Doo party with the gobbling from the Mystery Machine.

I don’t cook the gourmet meals my kids request frequently.

I honestly doubt they will look back on their childhood and recall a specific dish they loved that I made. However, I do cook daily, sometimes multiple times a day. I frequently try new recipes and aim to give them a nutritious meal with a vegetable they will inevitably push to the side.

I don’t do creative art projects with my kids.

When my job outside the home was working with children, I had all kind of crafty things up my sleeve. I attempted to continue the craftiness as a stay-at-home mom, but once we got to letter E, I was tapped out. Now, lacing fruit loops on a string for counting purposes is about as crafty as it gets. Instead, I do go outside almost every day with my kids and we may just break out some sidewalk chalk.

I don’t make cute, Pinterest worthy teacher gifts.

Much like throwing those fancy birthday parties I mentioned above, I use to, but that was a few kids ago. Let’s just be honest, between all of my kids, there are about a dozen teachers. Instead, I take the well beaten path of pitching in for a teacher gift. On a good year, I may even have my child write a sweet note to their teacher.

I use to make cute teacher gifts.

It took a while for me to realize that I don’t have to be a jack of all trades.  I could work smarter, not harder. 

When I released the things I felt obligated to, I was able to discover the things I am gifted to.  

Now, I have a peace with what I do AND don’t do well. There’s no more trying to achieve something outside my realm. I no longer spend time doing things just out of guilt or because all the other moms do it. I recognize that I don’t have to dabble in everything.  Now, I spend time doing things I enjoy and the things I do well.

What things have you come to realize just aren’t you AND that’s okay?

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Missey Calcutt
Missey Calcutt is a follower of Jesus and wife to her best friend for 16 years. Together they have five amazing kids who range in age from one to 13 years of age. Born and raised in Columbia, she earned a BA in Speech Language Pathology from Columbia College. She then attended USC where she earned a Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology. After working in a variety of settings for eleven years, she became a stay-at-home mom to her growing family. Now, she juggles hectic schedules, carpool lines and nonstop meal preparation. In addition to her love for writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, serving in her church, reading, and exercising. She hopes her posts bring encouragement to other women in the trenches of motherhood.

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