Getting Over Yourself

New Year's Eve - you're probably rushing around to make everything tidy for the New Year. There's this subtle pressure, and at times, not so subtle pressure to be the perfect woman, pristine hair, polished makeup, fit and healthy body as well as running a home like you were a management consultant.   

And even while you are possibly thinking about the New Year celebrations and making that special meal for the family or friends, your thoughts dash to the ironing that's required for   the children as they start school in a few days time.  And you're looking at your diary to ensure that you haven't double booked meetings for next week, while at the same time trying to make fresh custard to accompany the homemade apple pie  for dinner this afternoon.  

Then out of the corner of your eye, you spy cobwebs that you haven't managed to clean and you remember that you need to arrange to have the real Christmas tree recycled and wished that you'd followed your husband's advice and bought an artificial one.  And you should have washed your hair this morning in the shower as you walk past what used to the shiny stainless steel oven door and see a reflection. And you go into panic...meltdown...you start thinking silly thoughts...

Well, I hate to say it but... get over yourself.  Stop beating yourself up.  You are one person and you are human. 

One thing I have learned as a contemporary homemaker is that my home will only be continually tidy if, and only if, I never use it.  It will be tidy and perfectly clean, if my child never stays at home, if my husband doesn't come home at night and if I have a cleaner who comes in everyday.  That is the way, and the only way, my house will be magazine picture perfect.  

It's a real working home and looks that way.  And there's nothing wrong with that...

So, the one resolution that I'm allowing myself is to 'get over myself'' in 2015 and give me a chance to breath.  This is the hope that I have - that I'll stop comparing myself to the stereotyped images in books and magazines that I know are staged, and live real and be real and enjoy my real life.

TIP OF THE DAY

So, sit down, make yourself a nice brew, (I'm very partial to hot lemon squash - don't ask) and make a list of things that you NEED to do over the next few days and try to stick to that list.  Keep your list to no more than five items.  But if you don't succeed, there is hope, it can be done the next day.  

Happy Homemaking and Happy New Year when it comes!