I don't do it all...

Recently a kind person jokingly said, "I don't know how you do it all?" I laughed and said, "I don't." It made me start thinking of all the things I don't do. And guess what? I don't mind that I don't.
I have changed my focus this past year on all the things I should be doing versus the things I want to do. No, this does not include wanting or not wanting to pay my bills, those have to get done. It's the extras. The many times I've learned that "No" is a complete sentence. Guess what? That is A-OK with me. Here is a list of all of the things I don't do (and it's okay).

• I drink caffeine. I do. Yes, I am a member of the Latter Day Saints religion and yes drinking coffee/tea/hot drinks are against our Word of Wisdom. I should feel bad about this dirty little secret. But guess what? I don't feel bad. I would much rather drink a coffee above a soda pop, especially now that it's cold. Yes, I am addicted but hey, it's better than an actual drug. Am I right? 😂
• I don't chair classroom parties. Yes. I am a terrible mother. I applaud those Mama's that are out there doing their thing by chairing or running these parties. It's just not me. I love arranging people in places and delegating but #sorrynotsorry that does not involve my kids' classroom parties for whatever holiday/season event is going on. You can put me down for bringing things such as napkins/plates/bags of chips. I'm your lady for that. Effort beyond that? Yeah, No.
• I don't clean my own vehicles. Shocker right? They are always a mess and I pride that if you are needing something, chances are: I have something similar that'll do the trick in my Mary Poppins Van. They do get detailed every once in a great while by an amazing local company (I can hook you up with their contact info- just ask) but I definitely feel sorry for the messes that they encounter in my #MomVan. They are saints that I probably can't look in the eye for things they've found crawling/growing in the back seats where my feral children ride. Either way, this is something I do not do. I will gladly ask someone else to cover this area. #delegate 
•  I don't decorate my home for the holidays (much). I always had dreamed of having a Pinterest worthy porch for any guests that enter to view and admire. Yeah, another hard NO. You know those flashy lights that twirl and put up images onto the side of the house for the holidays? That's my best friend. That's all that gets done. I do put up a tree for the kiddos but this year- it's bare minimums and even a fake tree- who has time to go cut a real one down this year? #NotMe For Halloween, we went for the authentic look and left spiderwebs that were au-natural on the porch for the guests to wonder- are they real or are they fake? 😂 No one will never spot the difference. 😜
• I don't get the best deals. I am terrible about waiting it out for the perfect sale or the Armageddon when something may or may not lower their price. You know Amazon Prime? Well, that's my best friend. If I need something, I buy it. Yes Dave Ramsey is probably dying a little inside while I type that.  Oh well. I don't have time to run to every store imaginable or every website (let's be real) to find the best deal. Especially with Christmas items. Yes, I am a terrible person. But again, I am okay with that. 
• I don't have a social life. I know, I know. Shocker. I mean, who doesn't have a social life that is up at 4 each morning working on homework and in bed by 8 every night? #PartyAnimal here. I like my sleep. I don't really have the time or energy to "hang out" with friends. I have wonderful people in my life that I call friends, but getting to spend an afternoon meandering while gossipping and getting manicures and matching blow-outs, just doesn't happen. If a gal wants to hang out (at my place of course- I'm not leaving my place) at 4 in the morning and Amazon Prime shop with me. Hey, I'll make the coffee. Or wants to help watch my oldest little love give his show cattle blow outs almost everyday, be my guest. But beyond that, #sorrynotsorry my downtime is limited and being a social butterfly and BBQ-ing on the weekends with friends just gets pushed to the back burner. Sorry friends/family reading this. I don't really feel like I'm missing out on much to be honest. I don't feel like there is a void in my life where socializing should be. I'm probably going to have someone comment on this and mention that I should make more friends now so when my husband dies I'll have some girlfriends to rally with. Well, sorry that's a bridge I'll have to cross another day. For now, I'll be your keyboard cheerleader or chat with you when I see you picking up/dropping off kids or grocery shopping but sorry, that's the most I can do in this time of my life. 
  
• Exercise. Clearly. I mean yes I get on exercise kicks but again- socializing and consistency is a hard thing for me. I used to run at night. Loved it. Then my overactive imagination snuck in and of course every horrible thing that could go wrong in my mind became too scary so I said screw that, I'll exercise in the day. Well... Things happen during the day like children spring to life and need things from me. School work needs things from me. Chores need stuff too. Animals, they need fed and taken care of. There is always something that needs to be cleaned up/put away/etc. The fun just never ends. So instead I've learned that "Chore-Fit" must be similar to "Cross-Fit" so it works for me. Again, if anyone wants to come do this exciting form of exercise, come on over. Maybe we will even socialize. Maybe. 
•  I don't separate whites and colors on my laundry. A grandmother is probably rolling over in their grave somewhere. But yes, I don't. If I'm feeling froggy maybe I'll put lighter colored things in a wash but for the other 99.9% of the time, it all goes in together. #SorryNotSorry 
•  I don't watch sports. I should really make that a "we" don't watch sports things. I'm so thankful I married a wonderful man, who get this? Doesn't care about sports. National Finals Rodeo is a whole other thing. We watch that like it's Jesus coming out from the heavens when it's on during December. Beyond that? Nope. We don't have a team. We don't even have a season. We don't even have a sport. My oldest little love always asks, I think it's so that he'll have something to talk about with his little buddies but sorry dude, I have no idea. Ask your friends. Oh and guess what? I'm not even sorry about it. (Insert happy dance). 
• I don't really take vacations. I'm really trying to. But for the most part, the past decade worth of trips have been usually work related someway. 
• I don't buy organic produce. Gasp. I'm sure a hippie just fainted somewhere. I'm sorry but you know that whole thing about not waiting for great deals? That money has to be made up somewhere else and guess what? I'm not going to pay for organic anything if it is more money than normal/GM food. Which guess what? IS OKAY! I could go on a big rant about fear mongering which occurs so flipping often in the food industry, it's not even funny. But I won't. I'll send you over to A Farmer's Daughter Blog Post here 
• I don't wear uncomfortable shoes. I wear 1 pair of black pumps that I've had for about 10 years when I won't to look "professional" other than that it's boots/ballet flats/or wedges (just for church or special occasions). I spent way too many years in my younger days walking like a new baby calf and guess what? It's just not worth it. 
  
• I don't do sleepovers. There. I said it. I have lots of opinions on this one but they take a long time to write down. So moral of this one? I
  
  just don't do it. I'm fine with late-overs where my kid stays at your place for a while or vice versa but beyond that? That's a No from me. Again, I'm so lucky to have a husband who agrees with me on this. We do allow sleepovers with family. My parents. His Dad. My brother. The oldest little love's Bio Dad/Grandparents. Sure. Beyond that? Sorry, it's a hard pass. 
• I don't buy brand name clothes. My kids are part feral. 100% real talk. They destroy anything and everything they have on. Despite my best efforts. They play hard. They also work hard, so does my husband. So name brand clothes get destroyed just as fast/easy as cheap clothes. Yes, we do have some western style name brand pants the boys wear. They fit better over their boots and are actually long enough to look nice. Beyond that? Generic is great with us. 
• I don't schedule anything without consulting my bible  my datebook. I call it my datebook. I always have. Some people call it a calendar. I call it the other. A calendar is the thing that hangs in our kitchen so that everyone else can know of the inner workings of all things that have to be done. My datebook is personal and my bible of all things me related. I only have my heart race when someone starts talking to me about dates/events/things and I don't have my datebook within arm's reach. As I sit and type this, it is next to my computer. I've already made 3 appointments for this week and it's not even 9:00 AM. Need a gift idea for me? I've already bought my 2020 datebook, but hey 2021 is coming soon and needs to be organized... 
• I don't let my kids stay up late or pick their bedtimes. Again, definitely not sorry about this one. Our kids bedtime is 8:00 pm. If they want to giggle/read/play in their rooms past that 8 o'clock lights out, the next night their bedtime is moved earlier (7:30pm). Yes, we are mean. But if they are up later than 8, guess whose mean the next day? It's not just me. My kids are awful the next day? Why? Because they wake up by 6 (the latest). I wake up at 4 and usually the middle love is up by 4:30. No joke. He quietly sneaks in and gives me hugs. I don't mind but still, they are all up early. Sleeping in is like 6:30 for us. This morning for example I was up by 4 working on wrapping presents (trying to get a head start) instead of homework and I was texting my sexy husband saying how shocked I was the kids weren't up, it was about 6:05. Right as I hit send, I hear little footsteps coming thru the playroom to our room. Darn it. He was up bright and bushy tailed ready to go. Then about a half hour later the littlest love started stirring and whining ready to. The oldest little love is out of town right now with his Bio-Dad, probably waking up early for them too... 
• I don't not eat carbs. Sorry for all those that are doing the Keto/Low-Carb diet. I tried it. Wasn't a fit. I like bread too much. The past few months my motto is: Fix it with bread, garlic or cinnamon or it can't be fixed. Hmm. It's a wonder I'm not a life/health/exercise coach. #Ohwell. 

Well, I think the whole point of this post was to really step back and be A-Okay with how you are doing. What works for you, works for you. What works for me, works for me. You may be an exercise queen who chairs every child school party. I don't. I'm okay with that. And you should be too. I don't do it all. I am a great parent (at times) and I am proud of that at the end of the day. Are there anythings that you don't do that you are okay with? Comment below!