Perfection Pending

By Meredith Ethington

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Five Things That Make My Blog Awesome. And By “Awesome” I Mean Boring.

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I want to be famous. No wait. I don’t want to be famous.

I want to be a writer that people love and admire. No wait. I don’t want to do that either.

I’m so confused.

You see, I have discovered several things about my blog that make it so “real” that it might just be boring.

1- I don’t have a cool camera. Therefore, my pictures are usually blurry. Or have bad lighting. Or are washed out by the flash. AND- I frequently find a dirty mirror in the background, or a crayon scribble on the wall behind the subject (I mean stuffed animal) I am trying to take a picture of. It’s OK. I play it off as “keeping it real”.

2- I don’t do DIY tutorials. I really don’t do DIY anything. I have become that Mom that microwaves hot dogs. I did that for the first time this week. I kid you not. I call my sister, “How do you microwave a hotdog?” She replied in a tone that was like, “You seriously just called me for this?” and said flatly, “You poke holes in it with a fork and cook it for one minute and make sure it doesn’t explode.” OH OK! Now I know how. Wait, did I just do my first DIY tutorial? You’re welcome.

3- I Know nothing about fashion. I wish I did. I got a pedicure yesterday. And, before you think I’m one of those moms that thinks pedicures are a necessary part of life, let me just say, I have medical reasons for why it is necessary. I swear! You don’t want to see that. Moving on. So, at my pedicure, I picked up a magazine. Glamour. It was chocked full of how to be a man magnet (there was literally a picture of a model with a magnet attached to her back and men attached to said magnet) and other such nonsense. And, I looked at the pages of “What’s in” in fashion and realized I’m not doing too bad. I mean, who knew that I was supposed to wear overly baggy tops with my skin tight jeans as a trend? I just thought I needed to lose a little more of that “baby” weight. Yes, I put that in quotations on purpose. So what if I wear normal jeans and call them “skinny jeans”. I mean, they’re skin tight, so I’m counting it. And here’s my attempt at the messy bun on top of your head that I saw in the magazine last night:

P1040059

To achieve lighting in this post, simply sit in a basement with bad track lighting. You’re welcome.

Doesn’t it look A-MAZ-ING??? I think so. I especially love my smeared make-up. And, the frizzies at my hair line. It’s all part of “the messy look” I was going for. Oh, and you don’t see the bun on the TOP of my head? Oops. And before I forget…what I’m wearing. My top is from Target. Take THAT Glamour!

4- I don’t have an amazingly heartwarming/heartbreaking story. I mean, I might. You never know. Things can take a turn for the better or worse at any moment. But, my story is pretty ordinary, and people need to die first before I can share it, because I’m too afraid of offending people around me sharing “my” story.

5- I don’t homeschool, do crafty things, or cook fancy meals. If you want to know how to make a laundry basket last that has a split down one side (tip-just keep using it anyway) I’m your woman. Or, if you want to hear me complain about public schooling but not really get involved to change anything, then yep, that’s me too. Or, if you are DYING for some recipes, I do have a few over here. But, that died off real quick when I realized how much work it is to type up recipes. And take step by step pictures. Nobody’s got time for that.

So there ya go. Some reasons why my blog is super awesome boring.

But, the other day, as I logged in to see what my stats, I saw that my normal 85 views for the day had skyrocketed to 400 in just a matter of a couple of hours. WHAAAAT? I did a double take and thought, “What the crap!?” My first thought was that I had somehow mysteriously logged into someone else’s stats. No wait, that’s not possible. Then, what? I do the same thing I do everyday. Write a post, share it on FB with my 59 followers, pin it to Pinterest where no one looks at it, and hope that if I write it, they will miraculously find me.

The thing is, when I figured out what caused the glitch, it made me a little depressed. You see, on Thursday, I shared someone else’s writing on my blog. Granted, it was hilarious. But, I had done my research. Several people had shared it on facebook, and SEVERAL more people had put it on their blogs. So, no biggie. I didn’t think anyone would care about it that much, except maybe my few loyal followers might get a chuckle. But, I guess no one had ever posted it to…..You guessed it. Pinterest. Anyone else see the irony there?

So, Thursday my blog got 613 views. Friday 994. And as I write this post, I currently have already gotten 824 views. Now, I know this is small potatoes to all you big time bloggers out there, but to little ole me, it felt huge. Into my mind flashed the fantasy of book deals, and podcasts, and TV appearances. Yeah, I’m looking at you Scary Mommy. I saw you on the Today show.

The depressing part? It was for a post that I didn’t even write.

So, yeah, my blog is pretty awesome.


54 Comments

« Having the Answers to Hard Questions Children Ask
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Comments

  1. win4eva says

    April 13, 2013 at 3:46 pm

    Awesome…..

    Reply
  2. jennpower says

    April 13, 2013 at 3:50 pm

    If it helps, I think your writing is hilarious judging from this post. And remember write for you. When you start to write for others- you’ve lost your way. It’s not boring- look at your theme- it just screams “Fun!” to me. 😀 Never give up. And who knows, some of those people may keep coming back and follow you. (I know I will be.)

    Good luck!

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      April 13, 2013 at 3:52 pm

      Awww. Thanks!!! That was super nice. Full disclosure-I can complain and whine quite a bit. 🙂

      Reply
  3. cgparkin says

    April 13, 2013 at 4:18 pm

    You’ve got humour in bucket loads, and that’s going to count for a lot, especially when you realise that half the “don’ts” you have account for many very poor posts for others as their content. Loved the fun of this, smiling from about 11 words in and not stopping thereafter – great post!

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      April 13, 2013 at 4:19 pm

      Thanks!! So nice of you.

      Reply
      • cgparkin says

        April 13, 2013 at 4:24 pm

        Pleasure – I’ve just discovered your site view the Reader and am going over it now…

        Reply
        • fakingpictureperfect says

          April 13, 2013 at 4:26 pm

          click around a whole bunch and maybe you’ll get me to 1000 views today! 😉

          Reply
          • cgparkin says

            April 13, 2013 at 4:27 pm

            No probs! A few extra from Australia coming up!

  4. bensbitterblog says

    April 13, 2013 at 4:20 pm

    In order to avoid getting blurry pictures I am use other people’s or Google’s. So exciting that you got lots of views! Who cares how you got them?

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      April 13, 2013 at 4:22 pm

      way to be positive! I’m impressed. 😉

      Reply
      • bensbitterblog says

        April 13, 2013 at 6:33 pm

        Don’t tell people. I might get a reputation for being nice.

        Reply
        • fakingpictureperfect says

          April 13, 2013 at 8:06 pm

          Your secret is safe!

          Reply
  5. monk-monk says

    April 13, 2013 at 4:52 pm

    I’m so glad that I’m not the only non-DIYer out there. And we have tortellini with marinara sauce every night for dinner. And the most people who’ve ever read me is 43, so Ic annot even imagine 824! Congrats!

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      April 13, 2013 at 4:53 pm

      Do you want me to go to your blog and click a whole bunch? That’s my secret….half the clicks are probably mine 😉

      Reply
      • monk-monk says

        April 13, 2013 at 4:55 pm

        ahahaha, that’s awesome! I haven’t even thought of that 😉 Though I’m still bloggy-anonymous to most of my friends, so I can’t pin or post to facebook since everything is linked these days!

        Reply
        • fakingpictureperfect says

          April 13, 2013 at 4:56 pm

          yeah. Being anonymous I think would be awesome for lots of reasons. Which I can’t say here because I’m not anonymous.

          Reply
          • monk-monk says

            April 13, 2013 at 6:37 pm

            P.S. I’m really interested in your non-homeschooling choice. So many women (especially women of faith) seem to go the homeschooling route. Ever care to write a blog post about your schooling choices?

          • fakingpictureperfect says

            April 13, 2013 at 8:06 pm

            Hmmm. Never thought there was much to say but maybe I will think about that one!

  6. Robyn Gobbel, LCSW says

    April 13, 2013 at 5:22 pm

    Five reasons your blog is awesome:
    1. You
    2. JD
    3. Avery
    4. Kyle
    5. Sweet baby Chandler

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      April 13, 2013 at 5:26 pm

      aww. Love you friend!!

      Reply
  7. donofalltrades says

    April 13, 2013 at 5:31 pm

    Well I don’t read every one of your posts because this blog sucks, you know?! I like your “real” pictures and the fact that you don’t normally edit them and that your house looks like kids live in it! Photos that can make a pile of shit look pretty are ridiculous. It’s a pile of shit!!! You be you and I for one will always enjoy reading, even when you’re being bitchy or whiny, Lol.

    Reply
    • donofalltrades says

      April 13, 2013 at 5:36 pm

      And I didn’t know you had to poke hot dogs before you nuked them! I’m glad I read this.

      Reply
      • fakingpictureperfect says

        April 13, 2013 at 5:44 pm

        Glad I could help!! And thanks for being a loyal reader. sort of. Yes who knew you had to poke them before nuking!? When I read your post it seriously made me laugh because I had seriously just done that THAT day.

        Reply
  8. Ashley Austrew says

    April 13, 2013 at 6:38 pm

    See? THAT is what makes your blog interesting. You’re normal, but there’s nothing wrong with that. You’re funny. And funny things happen to you, and you retell them in a way that makes me laugh, shake my head, and think oh my gosh, thank God someone else out there is weird like me. haha

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      April 13, 2013 at 8:05 pm

      Thanks! The feeling is mutual.

      Reply
  9. TheAwakenedMomma says

    April 13, 2013 at 7:16 pm

    Let the record show I’ve been following you before you were famous! Don’t forget us little people ;).

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      April 13, 2013 at 8:04 pm

      Hahaha! Famous. Not even close!

      Reply
  10. Amber Perea says

    April 13, 2013 at 7:29 pm

    Fame is fame, love, so take it where you can get it. That post may have gotten their attention but it’s up to you to keep it. Just be you. 🙂

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      April 13, 2013 at 8:04 pm

      I’m trying!!!

      Reply
      • Amber Perea says

        April 13, 2013 at 10:30 pm

        Well, silly, you can’t get a bunch of new people over to your blog and the next post be about how boring it is! 😉

        Reply
        • fakingpictureperfect says

          April 13, 2013 at 11:26 pm

          Hahah! It’s fine cause they are all looking at that one post. Not much exploring going on!

          Reply
  11. Adriana says

    April 14, 2013 at 8:06 am

    I think your writing is excellently hilarious! 🙂

    Reply
  12. mkstump says

    April 14, 2013 at 9:07 am

    Your blog IS awesome. 🙂

    Reply
  13. Jo says

    April 15, 2013 at 3:10 am

    Live this! I am new to the blog world and this is exactly how I feel! x

    Reply
  14. Tatsat says

    April 15, 2013 at 3:57 am

    You did bring out a smile in this sunny afternoon here 🙂 I guess, that speaks a thing or two about your blog !
    Am here for the first time, but will be coming around more often.

    Cheerio !

    PS- We all have great stories to tell- you probably do not know it yet 🙂

    Reply
  15. Lindsey says

    April 15, 2013 at 9:07 am

    Maybe your blog should have a new subtitle that involves the word “help”. Then all the moms who are looking for help through blogs will be directed here. How about “Helping moms all over the world accept their lack of awesome.”

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      April 15, 2013 at 9:13 am

      Thanks?

      Reply
  16. The Hook says

    April 19, 2013 at 3:28 pm

    Your blog IS awesome!
    And that’s all I have to say about that.

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      April 19, 2013 at 3:33 pm

      That’s a compliment coming from such an awesome blogger like you!

      Reply
  17. stunkard says

    April 22, 2013 at 5:20 pm

    Wait, you poke holes in the hot dog first? Your blog is so informative. 😉

    Reply
  18. sandinmytoestk says

    June 22, 2013 at 10:26 pm

    Well, you have another follower here! And I think your blog is pretty awesome! Your pageviews make mine look like small change…haha!

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      June 23, 2013 at 8:05 am

      Thanks for following! Can’t wait to check out yours. 🙂

      Reply
  19. Julie says

    June 23, 2013 at 4:18 pm

    Hopping over from Crazy as Normal’s blog hop! Love this post – hilarious. You’re my kind of humor. Will be following you!

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      June 23, 2013 at 7:56 pm

      Thanks! 🙂

      Reply
  20. Making Memories in the Chaos says

    October 30, 2013 at 8:56 am

    Hey! I am SO PLEASED to have found your blog – it is totally awesome and has brightened up my afternoon 🙂

    Reply

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Welcome! I’m Meredith.

Mom. Writer. Diet Coke connoisseur. Born and raised Texan. Lover of real talk and laughter with a hint of sarcasm mixed in.

The Mother Load

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Meredith Ethington

perfectpending

Mom • Author • Mental Health Therapist In Training
Grab my new book, The Mother Load, available now. 👇👇

Night night! 😤 Night night! 😤
If you missed my last post about how raising teens If you missed my last post about how raising teens can wreck you mentally….wellll this is part of the reason why. So lonely! But we are in this together somehow. 😂 Make sure to check out my latest substack and grab a copy of my book —- The Mother Load!
NEW ---> "When there are problems in these big kid NEW ---> "When there are problems in these big kid years, it’s no longer really acceptable to call a friend and air the annoyances of the situation. At least not the specifics.

Sure, you can commiserate with a fellow parent about teenagers being the worst.

But, to be honest - they’re not the worst. They’re kind of amazing. But their problems make me tired to my core." 

Read the latest on my substack. I promise you'll relate. ❤️
So sweet. ❤️ Follow me @perfectpending and bet So sweet. ❤️
Follow me @perfectpending and better yet buy my book or subscribe to my substack to support me.
"I don’t know about you, but I don’t really wa "I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want same-ness anymore. I want messy. I want admissions that shit is hard and we don’t have it all together. I want to have a makeup free, messy bun in my sweats run in with a mom friend and not feel worried she’s checking out my un-groomed eyebrows.

I don’t want to try to give off this illusion that I’m control of my life any better than the next person. It’s a shitshow for all of us, and we continue to hide it for fear of what? Being human?"

Read the rest on my Substack. Link in profile.
WHAT IF THIS IS THE HAPPIEST I’LL EVER BE AND I WHAT IF THIS IS THE HAPPIEST I’LL EVER BE AND I MISS IT? What if I miss the best time of my life. What if it’s right this second?
What if it’s right now while I’m in finals week of grad school, and have a kid that’s sick? 
I already miss so much. The gummy smiles of babes without any teeth. The squeaky voices of 2 year olds. The babbling of a baby that’s just trying so hard to say mama. The grammar mistakes my kids make when they’re talking that I don’t have the heart to correct because I love it too much. 

I miss a lot about those younger years that have already slipped away. My youngest is sick, much like in this picture, but he is too big to snuggle in my arms now when he’s running a fever. 

Today I had the thought, what if this is it? What if this IS the happiest I’ll ever be?
For a moment, I lingered in that thought as I stood over my sink and did the dishes. I started to cry.
Am I missing it? AM I? I felt a tug that maybe I was. Maybe I wasn’t relishing enough, and enjoying enough, and being present enough.
But, then I realized, it will never be ENOUGH. 

Read the rest in my substack ❤️
New year, same me. 😂 #mentalhealth #anxiety #de New year, same me. 😂
#mentalhealth #anxiety #depression
"I don't care" as I literally care about every sin "I don't care" as I literally care about every single thing.
I’ve got to admit - I’m kind of over all of th I’ve got to admit - I’m kind of over all of this. *sweeps arm generally at planet earth*

Look, I’ve never been a half glass full kind of gal. I can ALWAYS find the negative in every situation. 

But, right now it’s easy to say that I’m over it. It being.....

The state of our economy. Social media. People being unemployed. People being racist and homophobic. The debate over politics. People judging people. ALLLLLL of it. 

Everything is crap right now. We joke about it a lot. We have to in order to survive. 

It’s the one millionth day of January but Spring feels so far away. 

I’m over these four damn walls that we call home. 

Yeah, I know. Even as I’m typing this it all sounds like a bunch of ungrateful whiney BS. I hear it. I don’t need you to point it out, Karen. 

But, my guess is you’re reading this right now and realizing you’re over it too. Whatever “it” is in your life.

Some days the world feels like total crap. Everything is a mess. Everything costs too much. For E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y. 

Yes, even for you Karen. ➡️➡️ to keep reading.
Yes. Boundaries are healthy and good. And they mea Yes. Boundaries are healthy and good. And they mean someone loves you that much to communicate them! Love this wisdom from @wittyidiot
NEW POST ----> "This is not a post about loss of a NEW POST ----> "This is not a post about loss of a loved one. Or loss of a child. Those things are real, and they’re heart wrenching. And, this post is certainly not to compare that loss with the one I’m going to talk about.

But, the loss of yourself in motherhood is real. And It’s not talked about enough." 

Do you feel like you lost yourself in motherhood? How? I really want to know. 

Psss - I am in grad school to become a therapist, and am not ashamed to ask that you subscribe to my paid substack. I just lowered the cost to $36/year! That's like $4/month and you'll have access to all my previous posts, and some new weekly short posts to give you ideas to help with balancing motherhood and your own mental health. I'm learning a lot in school, and will only continue to do so, so subscribe and we'll support each other. ❤️
This memory made me laugh this morning. 🤣 This memory made me laugh this morning. 🤣
Saaaame. @womenwhorunwiththemoon Saaaame. @womenwhorunwiththemoon
I’m sorry are you really wearing doc martens and I’m sorry are you really wearing doc martens and a dress with spaghetti straps and a Tshirt under it while you’re telling me I’m doing it wrong? 🤣 Life is wild. Teenagers are fun.
Found in my pediatricians office. 🤣 What’s th Found in my pediatricians office. 🤣 What’s the moral of the story friends? If you think your household is always sick - it’s because they probably are. Kids make everything more germ-y
Here’s what I do know 👇 No one knows what th Here’s what I do know 👇

No one knows what they’re doing. 
We all feel like imposters. 
Our kids love us anyway. 
We’re all going to be OK. 
You’ve got this (as much as any of us do) 😘

#momspiration #momlife #funnymoms #memtalhealth #parentinglife #parentingquotes
"By trying to be perfect, we're actually trying to "By trying to be perfect, we're actually trying to avoid being human." 

Do you struggle with perfectionism? Parenthood has helped me quite a bit, but It's something I've battled my whole life. I still struggle occasionally, although it's gotten better. But, let's stop trying to avoid being human and instead embrace ourselves an in turn embrace the entire human race. ❤️ I'd love to hear how you embrace being imperfect. 

#perfecționism #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #anxiety #imperfect #perfectpending #themotherload #thementalload
Mood. Mood.
Some of you wanted sources on my last reel where I Some of you wanted sources on my last reel where I said we only need to be getting it right 30% of the time for our kids to have secure attachments. Well I wrote a bit more about the concept of being the “good enough mother” a term coined in the 50’s by a researcher and pediatrician. Check it all out in my newest post. Link in profile.
It’s true! Researchers have found that as long a It’s true! Researchers have found that as long as you’re doing the repair after mistakes the other times - then 30% is enough! Sometimes I worry I’m not doing it right but I definitely know I’m doing it right 30% of the time! 
Probably a whole lot more to be honest. I bet you are too. #momlife #encouragement #momspiration
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