Life
10 Gross Things That All Lazy Moms Are Honestly Not That Worried About
Being a lazy mom comes with a certain stigma, at least in the mommy world. There are women out there who think that moms need to constantly be on their game, houses spic and span, toys organized and disinfected every day, and organic meals planned for the week. Then, well, there are the lazy moms. They might not have a spot-less house, but there are gross things all lazy moms aren't worried about, either. What might send a super-organized, type A mother into an essential frenzy, won't be a blip on a lazy-mom's radar. Being a lazy mom means being more tolerant of messes in general, and that isn't always a bad thing. After all, parenthood isn't about perfection, it's about prioritizing.
You can definitely call me a lazy mom. As I type this, I can look on either side of me and see toys scattered across the room. There are also clean dishes still hanging out in the dishwasher, and the dirty dishes have been piling up in the sink since first thing this morning. I'm not troubled by this, though, because it's been a crazy day so far and getting my kids out the door on time, getting to my doctor's appointment on time, and then getting home so I have time to work, took precedence. Yup, lazy all the way.
I used to be a perfectionist, but perfectionism is a trait that will (at least for me) end up ruining not just your mental health, but potentially your kids' too. It was far too easy for me to lose sight of what really mattered when I was focused on looking "perfect." That's why, now that I'm an unapologetic lazy mom, I don't sweat the small stuff, including but not limited to:
Crumbs On The Floor
Clearly, we're not talking about spaghetti or yogurt spilled all over the floor, but some crumbs that find their way onto your kitchen floor, or around wherever your kids eat, is not the end of the world. I use our dust buster regularly, but if those crumbs stay on the floor for a few days, no one is going to die, okay?
A Few Dirty Surfaces
Again, yes, there's still cleaning involved on a regular basis, but I am not obsessed with making sure everything the kids touch has been sanitized. Germs aren't all bad, people.
When Your Kid Hasn't Had A Bath In A Few Days
Totally unnecessary, people. Plus, too much hot or warm water actually dries your skin out! And it's not like they're all sweaty all the time, right? Spot clean the dirty spots, unless they've been rolling in mud or sand or swimming in chlorinated pools.
Pizza (Or Any Fast Food) For Dinner
I won't lie: when we ordered pizza the other night and my son, who isn't yet two, started yelling "PIZZA! PIZZA!" at the top of his lungs, I felt guilty for a moment. Then I remembered that my family is in the midst of a crazy time, and if I want to spend a few extra minutes cuddling with my kids when they get home, instead of freaking out about dinner not being ready yet, then pizza it is.
Dust
When I notice it, if I'm not weighed down with other things in the moment, I will grab my duster and get that layer of dust off the shelves, television and everything else. However, if there's a layer visible when your kid comes over for a playdate? It basically means I've been busy doing more important things with my life.
Dirty Kids' Clothes
My son has applesauce on his shirt? Yep, that happened two hours ago, and it just wasn't worth changing him. When he dumps the entire container on himself, yes, he will get changed. A spoonful's worth, though? Nope.
Dirty Dishes Left In The Sink
Sometimes, my mental health is more important than loading up the dishwasher after I put the kids to sleep. Usually, the dirty dishes from dinner stay out and I either sleep, talk to my husband for the first time all day, or catch up on Netflix. If that makes me a bad parent, I'm fine with that.
Discovering Your Kid With Their Mouth Around The Grocery Cart Handle
I actually completely hate it when my daughter does this, but what the hell am I going to do? It's not like I can spray hand sanitizer down her throat, so I may as well move on.
Disgusting Kids' Habits
My daughter picks her nose and eats it. I really have to breathe and let go on this one, because no amount of yelling or pleading or explaining how bad or gross it is, has changed her mind. So, for now, I'm taking a cue from Elsa and letting it go.
Your Kid's Gross Eating Habits
You know how it goes: they stuff their mouth so full that food is busting out all over, and they end up gagging it all out. Delicious. Well, you wouldn't believe how much quicker the lesson is learned when you don't go running to help clean it all up, actually.
