Only love

In a world where apparent perfection is always just a mouse click away, I want to remind you that perfection is a myth.

It's a myth.

 

Let it go.

 

Because today you may feel like a Valentine flunkie.

Because your feed is full of heart-shaped cupcakes and buckets of roses and hand embroidered Valentines. And maybe you barely managed to hug and kiss your kids as they ran out the door in the morning.

 

Guilt.

Failure.

Dissapointment.

 

Don't buy in.

 

Because even without homemade chocolates and a pink and red heart-clad decorating scheme, you're still a kick-ass parent/partner/lover/friend.

Your love is what's real. Share that.

 

In my world, I sometimes go all out.

And those days our house is a delicious, crafty, magical wonderland.

Other times I don't.

 

Like today. 

 

Today's festivities consisted of a quickly cut out heart-shaped card for each of the kids, made as I listened to their feet padding down the stairs in the morning. Each simply read, "I love you! <3 Mama" in partially dried out marker.

Oh, and I colored their milk pink at breakfast.

As for tangibles, that was it.

Nothing more.

 

And it was enough.

 

Today I want to absolve you of any guilt you feel because you didn't do something special, memorable, or Pinterest-worthy this Valentine's Day.

Because that's just the perfection myth trying to trip you up again.

 

Instead of beating yourself up because you fell short of some unreachable goal, fill yourself up with love until it spills right over.

 

Guilt will pull you down. But love will lift you up.

 

Love.

 

For your kids.

Your partner.

Your world.

Yourself.

 

And then do this:

 

Hug your favorite people close and tell them something you love about them. Something that makes them shine.

 

Be authentic. Look them in the eyes. Go deep.

 

Because that's what it's all about anyway.

 

 

There.

 

Wasn't that better than heart-shaped pink pancakes and too much chocolate?

It sure was over here.

 

 

Love,
Rachel