When saying "no" just seems right!!

Being a parent is hard...it's so hard! Not only do you have to live up to all of these expectations about cooking, cleaning, having a full time job (or income of some sort--trust me stay at home moms bring in income!!), all while working out at least twice a day, having 3 square meals to put on the table at night and sitting down to read the kids a bed time story. I am exhausted just writing all that out!!

The truth is no one puts more pressures on us than ourselves. Kyle and I recently sat down and he said I think you need to back off and just start telling people no and to also not worry about what everyone thinks. Between my book business, selling the junk in our house, working full time, and trying to meet up with all our friends, I seem to stretch my self pretty thin now a days!! Today I read an amazing post from another blogger who simply said they told someone NO instead of caving and saying yes and they didn't even have any guilt from it. I thought to myself, I would kill for that!!

So tonight, I made myself a promise (and now if someone will hold me accountable!). I am done stretching myself so thin. I am done trying to "please" everyone. Now this doesn't mean that I am going to go crazy and start just flipping everybody the bird. This simply means that the next time someone calls to have lunch and my week has been crazy, I am just going to simply say "now is not a good time". When someone calls because they need a book as soon as possible and I am out to dinner with my family, well then you just might have to wait an hour or two.

I recently gave up a booth because I got to thinking that I am focusing way less on my little ones and family and way more on book business. My book business is thriving but my home life was starting to tumble a bit. There are some weeks that I barely see my kids or husband between get togethers and parties. Do I enjoy these...yes I do. But I also enjoy my family and the little memories we are making!!

To all of my friends out there reading this, please do not be offended if we are unable to get together all the time and please know that as much as your friendship means to me, my family will always come first. And to all you mama's out there...don't spread yourselves so thin. Try your hardest to put you and your family first no matter what. In the end, all we will have are the memories that we have made so I say make them count while you can!!