Behind On Life…
It is 10:05pm and I am sitting on our sofa (well, our rental home’s sofa) typing this post. I always told myself I would never blog at night. That has always been “our time” for Mark and I to chat and connect and watch tv or just relax. Yet lately life has been so over the top crazy that I am eating my words. There just haven’t been enough hours in the day. Like not even close. The other day I was driving down the road, I don’t even remember where I was going, and I was just thinking about how hard life can be. It seems like we always have a face to wear or shoes to fill, places to go, people to see, deadlines to meet, bills to pay, housework to do, kids to carpool around, gifts to buy, papers to sign… I mean seriously, soooo many expectations. And then there’s the “most recent” addition to our daily lives… social media. You know that thing that no matter how not pretty enough, un-put together, disorganized or “behind on life” the feeds make you feel, we just cannot get enough. We literally cannot stop checking in. Whether it’s Facebook or Instagram, or SnapChat or Twitter. I look and I literally feel behind on life.
The last couple of days I think everything hit me at once and I am officially OVERWHELMED. Forgetting to sign folders, fogetting Winnie’s snack day at school… forgetting eeeeeeeverthing. Yes, me. These days I have determined that I am 100% behind on life. That may surprise you looking at my feed but social media really isn’t the place to post the mess. And the crazy. No one really does.
So I share it here. If you are new to my blog, you may be surprised to find that I share it all. Right here. The good, the bad and the ugly. If you’d like to read more, scroll through my “About Me” post category HERE and you’ll find everything from weight struggles to life struggles and everything in between. I like to break up the pretty and the “perfect” with some REAL LIFE.
So back to life… I have determined that I can handle the house renovation, blogging and the kiddos but everything else has gotten the boot… dinner, housework, laundry, paperwork, errands… Seriously ARGH. And then I was thinking that day in the car that yes, my life is crazy BUT my kids are healthy, Mark and I are healthy, I have a flexible schedule… I cannot even imagine adding all of that to the list. I give serious props to all of you out there dealing with so many things.
I remember several years ago when I was going through some really really difficult times I found myself looking at people so differently. I saw myself putting on a face every single day and I really started looking around thinking, you just never ever know what is going on behind that face. Inside of that heart. I detailed more in my post “Extending Grace“, but those times really changed me. Although they were years before I started blogging, I felt like God placed those obstacles and this blog in my life for a reason. God places everything in your life for a reason. I truly learned that then and have seen first hand how He places all of the pieces back together so perfectly. Different yet perfect in every single season of life.
And since you guys seemed to love my “Confessions” post several weeks ago, I decided to follow up with a peek inside our rental home and my reality these days. A peek at our mess that I cannot even keep up with. Because I hope it blesses you in recognizing that we are all a mess.
So here’s a peek inside real life and a look at how even in a great season of life, life is still life…
XOXO, Brittany Hayes
Beth says
Thank you for sharing the good along with the difficult. We all face challenges and it’s nice to have that behind the scenes view sometimes. Your honestly and openness are refreshing!
Colleen says
Wait, you mean everyone’s houses DON”T look like that???? haha!
Thanks for keeping it real!
Kai says
Hi Brittany, like to say I love reading your post and following your blog because you are the Best for being Real, Honest, Awesome, Beautiful and the greatest at everything you do. So Don’t Forget that! I hear ya with all those expectations, so don’t be hard on yourself. Take one day at a time and enjoy every moment. I have bad days too. So don’t be hard and judge yourself. Enjoy the small things and moments.
xoxo 🙂 🙂 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend Brittany :):):)
p.s I look forward to reading your post bcuz it makes me :):):) and thank you for sharing and typing so late into the night:)
Amanda says
This is normal. The picture perfect house and picture perfect life is just that “only picture” perfect. I am a married mother of 4 with another on the way.Both my husband and I work full time outside of the home. He coaches 2 soccer teams in the evenings. I coach varsity cheerleading at a local high school. Our kids are involved in soccer, basketball, football, baseball, cheer and dance. Life is hectic, but it is our life and it works for us…. Most of the time. Everything you said totally hit home. There are others having the daily struggles of Life right with you. It’s ok!!!! Thanks for the pictures and the real look into your world, because that is real life!!!
Linda Monrgomery says
The years when you are raising your children are hectic and you never feel you can get it all done. Somehow you get through it all and create wonderful memories with your family. I am a retired teacher and had 2 children. Looking back now, those were the best years of my life! I am blessed with 3 grandchildren who light my life now, but I miss all the hectic times when my kids and students were the center of my life. Enjoy this time. It goes quickly. You are doing great things for your family. You will forget all the craziness and be left with great memories.
Meada says
Love your transparency! You are doing wonderful and placing the priorities exactly where they need to be. This “craziness ” is temporary and before you know it the home of your dreams will be done and you can get back to a more comfortable routine. Thank you for taking us along for the ride…have a blessed day!
Darcy Potter says
Well as the famous saying goes “Life Happens” 🙂 I too get stuck in the endless things to do and never enough time! Working full-time, school, side business, husband and child and everything else in between, it seems like the world is spinning out of control sometimes! I have to remind myself to breathe and to take each day as it comes because it is a blessing. I get stuck in the “what if?” and “what is happening in the next day, week, month, year?” God is with you each and everyday and walking this crazy life with all of us 🙂 Thanks for sharing the “mess” and “real life” because to be honest this is what is looks like for most of us! 🙂 Sending hugs and luvs…Darcy
Kelly says
Thank you so much for posting this today. I’ve been having a hard time lately, and feeling like I’m not good enough in every way. You will probably never no how much your honestly means to your followers who struggle every day to keep up with the “picture perfect” lives media portrays. Once again…thank you from one stressed momma:)
Liz says
I love you, thanks for being real!!
D says
I am so grateful for your posts. Real life is where we connect with other people. Keep up the good work.
Sydney Fields says
Thank you thank you thank you. Just made this Mom’s night to know it is not only me. Kudos to you for doing a great job!
Andrea says
This is what my house looks like all the time and I wouldn’t trade it for a clean house ever – because to me the messes symbolize how full our lives are and I am so thankful for that! And I actually function better in chaos. 🙂
Jessica Bruno says
I am happy my house isn’t the only disaster! lol
Adrienne says
As the saying goes, “God never gives us more than we can handle.” I love that you pour your heart out because you probably find that we are all more alike than not. I LOVE when my house is squeaky clean, it’s a sense of pride and accomplishment. Looks just like the HGTV homes in the ‘after’ photos. However, more often than not, that isn’t the case. I’m following after my kids, picking up scraps of paper, LEGOs, crayons, clothes, shoes, socks off the kitchen table….sigh. Keep your head up. Have a date night. Forget about what is, and focus on what is to be. This too shall pass. You are doing great! 🙂
Jackie says
You’re awesome! Thank you for sharing this!!!
Katherine B says
I just now saw this blog and it was exactly what I needed to see. My life has been so crazy lately and I have felt so behind. So behind and overwhelmed that I just burst into tears yesterday when some friends asked if they could stop to visit on their way through town. Ugh. Life. But it’s also a beautiful adventure too!