Mama Reads Monday - Perfection, Birth Plans, & MORE!

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My “Mama Reads” Picks for Your Mama Time…

How was your week? My oldest have been with their dad on vacation, so it’s been quiet around here. But it’s been nice to have some quality time with J.C. alone, too. I can’t wait to have all of my kiddos home again, though, for some summer fun together! What kind of fun have you been having so far this summer?

Have a busy week coming up? (I know, I know… what mama doesn’t?!) Need some encouragement or just something to read in your downtime? Here are my favorite “Mama Reads” for you…

My Favorite “Mama Reads” This Week:

Perfection: The Thief of “Good Enough” – This is one of my greatest challenges: expecting perfection of myself. I let it get in my way of doing things, because I’m so afraid of failure. I need to print this blog post and tape it to my bathroom mirror!

“I haven’t started the project because the ideal craft cabinet in my head would take an entire afternoon, and a constantly nursing newborn and two preschoolers in the house means I barely get five minutes to focus on anything.

I’ve put it off because if I can’t do it perfectly, I think it’s better not to touch it at all.”

Finding “Slow” When Life is a Chaotic Mess – Dayna is a blogging friend of mine, so I knew she was planning a very chaotic summer. But I’m so in awe of how she’s willing to just go with it; I’d be too scared (probably because of the post above!). I love this post where she reflects on her adventure.

“Our plans did not go as planned. Our trip got derailed. Our attitudes needed adjusting. Then, what happened next was magical.

At the end of our time in our first stop, the only thing we could remember were the moments. The only pictures we had were of smiling faces and calm.”

I Have Enough, I Am Enough – She went an ENTIRE YEAR without buying anything new. I don’t think I could ever do it! But what she learned was amazing.

“I once went an entire calendar year without buying anything new. With the exception of consumable goods and food, every purchase that I made for the entire year was second-hand. It was a voluntarily challenge that I set forth for myself because I wondered if I could do it, and because I had a hunch that if I could, I’d be better for it. My friends thought I was crazy.”

Here’s What Your Baby Thinks of Your Birth Plan – I think this could be most mama’s birth stories. One that doesn’t go as planned.

“Ty took our sweet baby while the nurse checked my vitals.

I got my first glance of her from afar. A tiny little thing in those big strong arms.

Already her own person.

A person who didn’t care one whit about her scheduled birthday and came when she darn well felt like it.

Be strong, be happy, little one.”

Some Mama Reads from B-Inspired Mama:

Note – I have decided to change Mama Reads to just a weekly feature, without the link party at the bottom. But I’d still love to read your words and hear from you! If you have an encouraging or inspiring blog post to share, feel free to post it any day on B-Inspired Mama’s facebook wall.

How do you find encouragement and inspiration during your busy days, Mama? Do these “Mama Reads” help? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!