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

There’s a Toy in my Bed

  • Share
  • Tweet

I think if I were to ever write a book, “There’s a Toy in my Bed” would be the title. Nothing defines parenting more than finally laying your weary bones down to sleep and laying down on a truck/car/telescope/rock/anything-hard-and-kid-like.

And, some days, it annoys me to no end, and sometimes it puts a smile on my face. Because, some days, I can see the beauty in toys strewn all over my house. I see how lucky I am. And, I find the humor in it.

For once, I don’t have many words, but am feeling thankful for the little ones that leave me surprises around every corner of my house. It may annoy the heck out of me some days, but even on the bad days, I know how lucky I am. And, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Today, I found the beauty in it and smiled to myself as I realized that there will be a time for clean surfaces, child-free zones, and places to sit without finding a surprise. Today is obviously not one of those days. And that’s just fine by me.

P1040556

toy in my bed

P1040558

rock in my chair

P1040559

note on my fridge

P1040560

A bus under the counter

P1040555

A plane on the couch

P1040551

A pacifier in size 13 shoes

Life is good. Even when it’s messy.


Leave a Comment

« Mirror, Mirror on the Wall…Please Just Reflect ME.
Another Failed Attempt at Grocery Shopping. »

Comments

  1. Amber Perea says

    August 15, 2013 at 5:03 pm

    I love this. There is toy in every nook and cranny at my house. It’s maddening…but hilarious!

    Reply
  2. Rayna says

    August 15, 2013 at 6:05 pm

    I can only imagine the discomfort of a Lego in your back as you lie down to go to sleep! LOL!

    Reply
  3. servantsister says

    August 15, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    Awww this is fab and resonates with my home too.. Toys EVERYWHERE! The mess drives me crazy some days, but it is beautiful mess that reflects our gorgeous children 🙂 xx

    Reply
  4. bensbitterblog says

    August 15, 2013 at 8:23 pm

    How about a “Lego on my Floor”.

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      August 15, 2013 at 8:25 pm

      UGH!! That is so much worse, huh? I’m a horrible mom because sometimes my kids step on their own toys (happened today) and scream out in pain, and I tell them that’s what they get! Did I just admit that?

      Reply
      • bensbitterblog says

        August 15, 2013 at 9:44 pm

        Hey it’s true right? Maybe next time they will pick up their toys.

        Reply
  5. tric says

    August 16, 2013 at 3:37 am

    Mine are growing up, so I still have toys from the youngest and then everything from clothes, school books and empty plates and cups to the remnants of a night with friends over by my eldest with empty cans and beer bottles lined up for recycling, not to mention the bodies I find who do not live in this house! At least they are not in my bed though.

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      August 16, 2013 at 9:16 am

      haha! Glad to know that there will still be reminders of kids for a LONG time to come. 🙂

      Reply
  6. the okayest mom says

    August 16, 2013 at 12:42 pm

    So great! I should try walking around with a camera hoping to find all the surprises. Then I would be excited to find one!

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      August 16, 2013 at 2:18 pm

      There you go. It’s reverse mommy psychology.

      Reply
  7. TK says

    August 17, 2013 at 5:59 am

    You know what? I’m so used to seeing these little things that I can’t imagine my house any other way! And I love it!

    Reply
  8. monk-monk says

    August 17, 2013 at 4:11 pm

    this could totally be a tumblr post…every day you could post something new that you find. Because seriously, the pacifier in the shoe just cracked me up.

    Reply
    • fakingpictureperfect says

      August 17, 2013 at 8:25 pm

      Hmmm….I don’t do tumbler. Maybe I need to start!

      Reply
  9. Corner of Confessions says

    August 17, 2013 at 7:59 pm

    This was incredibly cute!

    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