Perfection Pending

By Meredith Ethington

  • My Books
    • The Mother Load
    • Mom Life: Perfection Pending – The Book
    • Free eBook: Sometimes Motherhood Sucks
    • How To Grow Your FB Following
  • Motherhood
    • Inspiration
    • Encouragement
    • Childhood
    • Humor
    • Parenting Memes
    • Friendship
    • Marriage
  • Kid Ideas
    • Recipes
    • Practical Tips
    • Babies & Toddlers
    • teens and tweens
    • The Elementary School Years
  • Mental Health
    • Mental Health
    • Anxiety
  • About
    • Favorite Posts
    • My Portfolio
    • Privacy & Disclosures

Uncategorized

Positivity

  • Share
  • Tweet

I have a headache. I woke up with one today, tried some allergy medicine, and it still won’t go away. Even the precious Diet Coke won’t fix it.

So, my blog is kind of low priority lately. There is a lot to do (which is probably giving me the headache), and for some reason, I’m in complete denial that I’m moving in like two weeks. But, I want to write. I feel the need to write. But, all I can think about is how many boxes I have to pack, my lesson I have to teach in church on Sunday, the fact that I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow for Kyle, closing on a house the next day, blah blah blah blah blah. I’ve got a lot of crap to do.

I have been patting myself on the back the past couple of days for my good mood, and my patience with the kiddos. And my productivity has been through the roof. But, this morning, I didn’t want to do a thing. Funny how that works huh? But, I got up and kept moving. And, today, my favorite search engine term was, “i’m sick of being positive pictures”

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. This still is making me laugh just thinking about it. And, it made me want to write something.

Do I ever get sick of being positive? Umm. Yes. Because, guess what? I really DO try to be positive. If you read this post, or this one, or this one, you will notice that I always at least try to wrap up on a positive note. But, in my head, it’s an every second battle.

Image

Because, here’s a news flash, I’m not naturally an overly positive person. I’ve said before that I view myself as somewhere in the middle. I don’t want to see perfection. I want to see honesty. But, honesty can be ugly to some.

MAYBE, some people are perfectly positive. But, I am not.

Does this mean I’m miserable? No. In fact, I’m happy being me. When I’m allowed to be me. In fact, I’m happy being able to complain when I want. I’m happy being sarcastic. I’m not a mean person, I just like to not sugar coat things. I like it when I don’t have to fake perfection. I’m happy when I can say, “This sucks” and a friend, or family member laughs with me and says, “Yes. Yes it does.” Then, I can move on. And, realize that life is hard, and you still have to keep on living. And, keep on trying to be the best person you can be.

Yet, the perception that this creates among some people is that I want to be negative. But, I do not. I just want to be honest. Maybe my view on the world is not reality. And, that’s OK. It’s my reality. And, I trust that there is a loving God that knows the true reality, even when I do not.

5bc4a5f72507974060ab3ed6f35b02c3

Some days suck. And, sometimes we are misunderstood. But, as my Grandma Erwin always used to say, “As long as you and God knows what’s right, that’s all that matters.”

So, He knows my heart. He knows my good and bad thoughts. He knows I’m not perfect. He knows my  personality. He knows my weaknesses and will turn them into strengths if I let Him. He knows that I am good. He knows that I try. He knows that I want to be better, stronger, and more like Him.

So, yes, sometimes, I get sick of being positive. But, this gives me motivation:

40f1b529df399d218368d929bb6993e1

Hmmmm. Whatever it takes, right? Where do you lie? Do you think you are a positive or negative person, or somewhere in the middle?


Leave a Comment

« Procrastination is Fun. Until it Isn’t and You Have a Lot of Work to Do.
Outside »

Comments

  1. momasteblog says

    June 18, 2013 at 4:24 pm

    I don’t know that I am positive, but I do try to be mindful and to tune in to the negative thoughts to discern if they are really true or just my emotions getting away with me. . . No one is perfect, sigh. Hope your head feels better.

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      June 18, 2013 at 4:31 pm

      Yes. That’s why I blog. It helps me work it all out and figure out where I need to change my thinking.

      Reply
      • momasteblog says

        June 18, 2013 at 4:34 pm

        Copy that!!

        Reply
  2. donofalltrades says

    June 18, 2013 at 5:21 pm

    You reek of positivity! Who are you anymore?

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      June 18, 2013 at 5:28 pm

      I know, right? I’m obviously lost right now!

      Reply
      • donofalltrades says

        June 18, 2013 at 5:30 pm

        Moving is very stressful. I expect that you’ll get settled in and get back to being you in a few weeks.

        Reply
  3. Amber Perea says

    June 18, 2013 at 5:39 pm

    Lol We all know where I stand on that but I would have to say that I am far from perfect. I think most of it stems from having a life fraught with hardships. When you rose up from difficult beginnings…no matter what life throws at you, you are prepared. Wisdom comes from a lifetime of mistakes, right?

    I’ve got a thick skin and a positive soul. Yes, sometimes life can suck but I truly believe that there is always a silver lining. I’m annoying, huh? 😉

    Reply
  4. Perfectly Imperfect says

    June 18, 2013 at 5:59 pm

    In general I am positive person. I just view myself negatively. We are always our worst critic. Obviously I see myself as imperfect, but we all are.

    I do hate those negative days though, hope tomorrow is a better day.

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      June 18, 2013 at 8:51 pm

      Yes. It is hard to always view ourselves in a positive light all the time.

      Reply
  5. bensbitterblog says

    June 18, 2013 at 8:35 pm

    You can quiet the mind, but how do you quiet your kids minds!

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      June 18, 2013 at 8:49 pm

      Good question!!!

      Reply
  6. Nara Satti says

    June 18, 2013 at 8:42 pm

    I think I am a positive person, but definitely not the type that will live vivid, joyfully, every single day, every single week. I wish! But I’m not. I’m more of a positive person when it comes to the future, when it comes to horrible life situations. I always see the light at the end, I never stop living and I never give up, and is because I always trust God, that He will be there with me. But I’m so imperfect on a daily basis. I think there are days that are better than others, and that’s fine too.

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      June 18, 2013 at 8:54 pm

      I agree! I’m the exact same way.

      Reply
  7. Erika says

    June 19, 2013 at 12:07 am

    I’m somewhere in the middle. I’m not sure that all of us can be “positive” all the time (positive in the colloquial sense). We can seek to be emotionally well, to be grateful, and to see joy. Some of us are just born being less chipper.

    I’m reading Team of Rivals right now (I know, that’s the literary equivalent of name dropping), and the author talks about how Lincoln had a ‘melancholy’ disposition. She says that that’s often confused with depression, but he was only documented to be depressed once. He would regularly withdraw into “the solitude of thought” which turned out to be very productive. She said this temperament is common with artists, writers, thinkers and creators, and that it’s thought to help them create. He adapted to his melancholy using humor and compassion. Anyway, that gave me some insight into myself as well as him (not that I’m like Lincoln but you get the idea).

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      June 19, 2013 at 8:47 am

      Very interesting! Maybe I should check that book out!!

      Reply
      • Erika says

        June 19, 2013 at 11:46 am

        I know it’s random to quote books in the blog comment section, but I couldn’t resist. I’d just read it and it’s so applicable.

        Reply
        • fakingpictureperfect says

          June 19, 2013 at 1:15 pm

          Not random! I love it. Thanks. 🙂

          Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Outside | Faking Picture Perfect says:
    June 19, 2013 at 2:23 pm

    […] had a headache yesterday, remember? So, I wasn’t up for driving a few extra blocks to the park I knew was shady. I […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

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. 

#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
Load More Follow on Instagram

You might also like

The Greatest Gift Is To Watch Your Child Leave You

Mom holding baby in nursery and yawning

When Does Parenting Get Less Exhausting? Newsflash – Never.

Dad holding tired girl after trick or treating during Halloween in the 80's

Halloween in The 80’s Was the Best Ever

mom forcing a smile with fingers and blue background

Stop Complaining About Motherhood. Here Are 21 Reasons You Shouldn’t

Here’s How to Deal With Hating Being a Parent

Copyright © 2025 · Perfection Pending · Designed by Krizzy Designs

Copyright © 2025 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in