That’s what people ask upon hearing that I have a blog. The answer, as it turns out, varies with my mood. Sometimes this place is undeniably a quilting blog. All quilts all the time. Sometimes I share a knitting pattern or photos of a knitting project. There are a few recipes here and there. Sometimes it’s all about photos. Often it’s a running conversation between like-minded women about our daily lives. And we’ve discussed what I believe to be the danger of sharing only the pretty side of things.
But there’s an equal danger in dwelling on the difficult. How easy it would be to complain about the juggling act that is being a mother. (I believe working mother to be a redundant term.) To live in the dark moments and become overwhelmed by them. And believe me, I go there. But coming to this place reminds me to look for small goodness in the mix. The moments I want to remember are plenty but often become obscured by the bigness of the harder ones.
So, suburbia isn’t always pretty. But when the sun shines off the overpass by the prison (across the street from the sewage treatment plant)
it glows.
And there might be toys on the floor but their bright colors bring joy to my moments.
And my kids exasperate me.
Often.
But I know that’s because I’m doing it right. If they were complacent sponges who never questioned anything they would be boring humans. (Right?) It’s not my goal to raise boys who can’t think for themselves. (Although it would be lovely if they could clean up after themselves.)
It’s hard. This whole thing. Being a grown up. Navigating life. But I’m grateful for this community we’ve built of women who share themselves with each other and support the idea that you’re not doing it wrong if you’re struggling.
And reinforcing the idea that stopping to notice the colors is a worthwhile activity.
You make me smile
and sigh and think I’m normal!
Lean over here! I’m raising my glass to you *clink!*
: )
Life isn’t all sunshine and roses or doom and gloom, and I love how you keep putting it in perspective and sharing that with us.
Thanks for just being you.
I think this community of women is akin to quilting bees in past times and isnt it fabulous to have that support from all over the world?
A wonderful post Amy! I always love stopping by. To hear of the triumphs and sometimes struggles but also to see the beautiful things you constantly create x
Oh thank god!! I sooo needed this……almost totally lost it this morning.
You are so very right about this being a community.
Thanks Neighbor
After reading your posts I am always so glad I stumbled across your blog. I love the array of posts. I too have a hard time being just a quilt blog, or a book blog, or a mom blog so I just mix it all up. I enjoy reading about your mixed up life too.
PS. The photo collage at the end of this post is so beautiful.
just what I needed to hear after banging heads all day with my own… thanks for your lovely written word.
(and it only dawned on me, my painting behind your tulips) I love that.. can we swap for a copy of that image??
oh my goodness – that circle quilt is gorgeous – I’m going to have to make another one for myself!
Oh that is the coolest house made of quilts ever!! I love those quilts! They are gorgeous! And yes – you are definitely doing it right. I remind myself the same thing when I wonder why my two year old has an opinion about everything… because ultimately I don’t want him to be a pushover! Gorgeous pic’s too!
You are so, so right! This community is wonderful and I consider myself lucky to be surrounded by folks like you who are such a source of kindness and encouragement.
magnificent.
Amen!
I agree, and sometimes it’s difficult being a grown up person, all the choices to make. The right choices.
What a lovely post. So many of the things I think about.
I love this post. I feel like a better person after reading it. Don’t know why or how but I do. Thanks.
Thank you for such a real post! I love your mosaic of photos. How do you do that? I’ve been wanting to try that myself.
I enjoy the “realness” about you and am grateful I jumped on your blog from another’s!!!! I would love for you to leave a comment on my blog for a chance in the drawing I am doing next Sunday. Happy Weekend and…WHAT ARE YOU CELEBRATING? Em
nicely said! xx
Thanks Amy, for always reminding me. And as always, beautiful photos. ~R
“you’re not doing it wrong if you’re struggling”
I’ve been struggling lately. A lot. And it does feel exactly like I’m getting it wrong.
Thank you for looking at it another way, for giving me a different way to see it. Truly has it helped.
Again, my thoughts exactly. Now if I figure out how to get them to clean up – I’ll pass on the secret.
xo
amen woman. (i owe you an email. there’s no school tomorrow, but i’m hoping i’ll have time to write. xo.)
Oh – what a lovely photo of your two little ones! My family room has also been taken over by a fort many a time…wish I’d caught a photo like yours when they were smaller…
Amy, another wonderful thought provoking post. Thank you. Love your collection of photos.
I loved reading your post. The candor and truth of your thoughts are so insightful and encouraging! Yes, it is hard, but life is hard and there are many struggles along the way. The joy and satisfaction far surpasses the struggles and dark moments that can overwhelm! You are doing it right! Keep doing what you are doing and keep sharing your days with these precious women who read your posts! The time will fly by more quickly than you would care to imagine.
I have 6 children and am nearly finished raising them~ the last 2 are in high school. There are so many times that I look at them and cannot fathom where the time has gone, yet it is gone and so I hold it fiercely in my heart and revel in the joy of those simple days of diapers and forts and cookies with milk after nap time!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Very well put. Thanks for the reminder. Beautiful pics, too
Exactly! Thank you for writing it so eloquently
Love the fort esp, but your pics are all gorgeous!
I’d like a poster-size print of that collage, please!
two thumbs up Amy! I would write more, but I am in between barfing children… so it goes sometimes.
Oh yes, I hear you.
And a shared life is much much more worth living.
Take care.
I agree with you so much – it is all a juggle, but there is joy as well as gloom, and it is good to share both.
Pomona x
I loved your post about Martha Stewart. I don’t have a hard time with the glossy magazines. I’ve always told myself that those aren’t real people. The issue I struggle with are the blogs that seem like they live heaven on earth. Even though they say their life isn’t perfect, it sure seems like that when they choose not to reveal a bad day. They’ll even say that they choose not to record the bad because they want to remember the good, but they have to realize that by doing so, they can end up seeming a little less human and unfortunately in many cases, instead of inspiring, their posts end up deflating. I’m not saying that a blogger should reveal all and make known all their bad days and sufferings though. I don’t know if this makes sense. I just know I found your two posts on the subject a great relief on this mama’s guilt and I appreciate it. Thank You. Your quilts and home are beautiful by the way.
Thank you again for saying these things. Just what I needed to hear today. There are some days when I feel like if I have to put the couch back together one more time, I might loose it. So thank you for reminding me that this is life with little boys and that I am grateful for their creative minds and active bodies. And one day I will miss it. Maybe. I’m not sure I believe that yet.
Look at all those gorgeous colors! Life is beautiful mess and all (and believe you me I have my fair share of the mess!)
Thank you Amy for always putting into words so many of my thougts. You have a gift with words.
You truly have a gift for putting into words the thoughts of so many, beautiful post! Beautiful thoughts because they are real and true and show the honest side of your mothering. More care and love for your boys come through in those words than you might realize!
That was so much more inspiring than my Yogi tea sayings (and those are pretty good). Sometimes I feel like it’s all about everyone else. Thanks for reminding me that I’m here too.
{I cracked up at the glow from the wires by the prison.}
Being a parent – I should say a proper parent – is sometimes just about as hard as it gets. When times have been toughest my girlfriends have always been there for me and I have always tried to see the positive in everything and take time to smell the roses. Your blog falls into the roses category – thank you for that!
Just stopping in to say hi…been loving your out-of-focus photos lately.
Beautiful. Thanks Amy, I needed that!
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I’m glad I get to see the beauty you see through your blog. Hope you are well.
That is nice to definitely find a site where the blogger knows what they are talking about.
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Amy, you are my hero! My thoughts exactly!