The good, the bad, the ugly.

I was reading a conversation on Facebook talking about how reading Facebook status updates and blog posts make you feel bad about yourself because you read about everyone's exciting, wonderful life. It think someone called it "the Facebook complex". Someone commented on how no one ever posts their real problems and we never see their tears. I have to admit that I myself have suffered from this "Facebook complex". A barrage of happy families, perfect parents, good looking people and exciting lifestyles at your fingertips every minute of every day has definitely made me question myself and what my life is like. Should I be buying all my kids clothes at Gymboree? Should I be wearing Toms shoes? Should we be taking a vacation to Hawaii? Will that make me more happy, beautiful, and exciting? I think about these things a lot more than I should. The conclusion I have come to is this: you have to do what you are comfortable doing and what works for you and your family. If that includes the things I mentioned above, then great! But if not, don't worry about it, enjoy the lifestyle you have chosen for yourself and your family. Which, for us, does not include the above. I think posting about the positive stuff in your life is a good thing, a way to remember all the good. However, we have to keep in mind when we are reading about others it is true that we don't see the tears, heartaches, and trials that all these people are experiencing along with the positive stuff. On my last entry I posted the pictures I just had taken with my family, I realize this is the happy, beautiful, exciting part. The positive stuff! But, let me tell you, it was not without it's own trials! It's not easy getting a 5, 2, and 1 year old to hold still, look at the camera and make a face that is not grimacing at the fact that they are being made to do all these things instead of being allowed to run around and explore a new place. How many times do I have to say "Fine! If you don't smile for this one you are not getting a slurpee!" or "Ok, if you hold still and smile just one more time you will get a slurpee and some licorice!" And it's not easy finding an outfit that will successfully hide my post babies gut and muffin top. It's tough living life, whatever kind of life you are living and all we can do is try our best and cherish the good and get through the bad and the ugly.