Perfection Pending

By Meredith Ethington

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Original Ideas May Not Be All That Original

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Do you ever feel like the whole universe has the same idea at the same time? I’ve been feeling that way lately. Like, the name of my blog. I came up with the name of it thinking that I was going to be the first blogger ever to really be REAL. I’m hooked on the idea of faking picture perfect (as in I fake it way too much) and my blog was going to be my way of overcoming that. Well, it seems like the entire universe has had the same idea at the same time and I’ve been feeling a little un-original. 

You know in the movie Garden State when Natalie Portman’s character tries to get Andrew to do something original that no one else in the world has ever done before? I love that scene. Of course I didn’t think my idea was that original. But, I feel like I keep coming across that idea over and over. 

And, the past couple of days I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed with the blogging world. You see, I’ve been blogging for 5 years now, and I love it. But, I’m ready for more. That is why I switched my blog to this name in the hopes to grow it, get more followers (I think I had about 10 before) and really have my blog take off and make millions. OK, that last one was a joke. 

But, lately, I’ve been doing the comparison game. Looking at other blogs with jealousy. Wanting a better blog design, wishing I knew how to do my own customizations, and feeling frustrated by the fact that I do not have the time to spend hours right now learning this stuff. I just don’t. I have 3 kids. Remember? And, twitter? I just. don’t. get. it. I’m trying. But, bleh. 

So, I’ve been feeling down and bummed out. Today, I am trying to tell myself to stop it! 

I had to think about the fact that I have 65 amazing followers in just a month! That’s HUGE.  Thank you amazing people. And, I have to remember that I have to take baby steps. So, I’m taking them. Little tiny ones. 

So, now that I’ve gotten that off of my chest. 

Here are some cute pictures from yesterday. I’m so tired of the snow.

Image

Image

But, I’m not tired of my cutie pie Chandler. The cat? I could do without her. But, I love these pics. They are reminiscent of the ones I took of Avery about the same age. 

Image

May 2008

Image

May 2008

Are you dying from cuteness overload? Cause, I could put more on here. I have a lot. They were just too cute together. If nothing else, cats are good for cute photo opps. Did you ever read about the time I almost killed my cat? You should. It’s a fun read. We have an interesting relationship. 

I would love more followers…so if you love my blog. Feel free to share it. 🙂 Off to shovel my driveway. Who am I kidding? Off to tell my husband to shovel the driveway. 

 

 

 


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Comments

  1. motherhoodisanart says

    February 24, 2013 at 6:27 am

    Wow! You have been blogging a LONG time! That’s really great! Blogging is really hard with 3 kids! I wish I had more time to figure everything out! Without the kids though…I wouldn’t have anything to write about!!

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      February 24, 2013 at 7:49 am

      Very true!!!

      Reply
  2. jill says

    February 24, 2013 at 10:12 am

    I love your honesty and that everything isn’t perfect and happy and wonderful all the time. You have really encouraged me and I have only read a few of your posts.

    Good luck with your blog!

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      February 24, 2013 at 3:54 pm

      Thank you!! That’s the best compliment I could get!

      Reply
  3. amberperea says

    February 24, 2013 at 5:10 pm

    I love your blog and nominated you for an award!

    http://journeyintothespectrum.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/we-cant-help-everyone-but-everyone-can-help-someone-ronald-regan/

    Reply
  4. MJ says

    February 25, 2013 at 8:02 am

    Don’t feel bad. I’ve obtained the same amount of followers in 3 months’ time.

    And don’t feel bad about the look of your blog! It looks great. I’m still fiddling with mine.

    Yup, I’ve got the toddler running around, too. A very rambunctious, inquisitive toddler. I get to sit at the computer in 3 minute intervals if I’m lucky. Right now she just dumped her plate of apples on the floor and is calling the dog to come eat them. 🙂

    I’m right there with you! Love your blog.

    Reply
  5. breathe16 says

    February 25, 2013 at 8:04 am

    Hmmm, write because you love to write and you enjoy the creative process and the rest of that stuff will follow. I think that’s how it works, anyway! 🙂

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      February 25, 2013 at 8:06 am

      Totally agree!! But Sometimes it still gets me down. But you are so right!

      Reply
  6. rachel from doe a deery says

    February 27, 2013 at 8:59 pm

    Meredith! So funny. We just launched a blog in February and it’s all about being real. I thought I was original too, and then I read this post! But, have no fear, I think that the ratio of real blogs to other blogs is very small. I think people are hungry for real content because we have been consuming picture perfect for so long! I get WAY overwhelmed too when I look at other people’s blogs and ALL OF THE MANY THINGS you can do to become a successful blogger, but I just keep reminding myself to stay real, do the things that I enjoy and post good content. The rest should follow. Good luck, and I am totally going to become a follower.

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      February 27, 2013 at 9:16 pm

      Thx!!! Loving your website too. 🙂

      Reply
  7. The Water Bearer says

    February 28, 2013 at 12:39 am

    I thought the exact same thing lol… Yet I find it kind of like confirmation when someone else writes about the same topics as me. And I find comfort in knowing others are going through the same issues as me. I see this all as God moving in waves, bringing similar messages to the hearts of people to flood the world with each new message. I also think He is showing us we are not alone no matter how much we may feel like the one horse in a room full of unicorns or vice versa. 😉 Keep up the great work!

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      February 28, 2013 at 7:22 am

      Good point!!

      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

Perfection Pending on Instagram

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. 

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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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