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By the lovely Grace Farris.
P.S. Personal pep talks and belated thank-you notes.
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This is so fitting. Sent this to my mama friend who also needed a bit of appreciation.
Oh man, sorry to be that triggered person, but this cartoon actually made me feel bad. I feel horrible about my freakouts which definitely aren’t very kind to those around me, I make bedtime look like hell on earth, and our flat smells awful no matter what I do so I’ve given up (we have a pretty robust mold problem).
My dessert policy is, at least, reasonable. But I wonder about all these “kind” freakouts people are having. Like… am I freaking out all wrong? Because I thought the defining feature of freaking out was that you look like a giant A-hole.
Sorry this triggered you. I may be wrong but I think the key here is to focus on the effort you are putting in. For me a “kind freakout” is when I apologize… even if it comes days later. Maybe your flat doesn’t smell great (we have a mold problem too) but you are providing a home for your family and that is a win. This shit is hard but made a bit easier if we give ourselves grace and pat ourselves on the back for what we can do (eg get my kids to school on time 4 out of five days/week… that’s not a win for some but it is for me).
Hang in there EmBed.
Amazing, Grace, thank you. “Panache” is perfect here.
So much love for Grace and her art.
These are so kind and thoughtful. Thank you, Grace, for appreciating us!
I love these little unexpected reminders that the tiny things in our life are universal. On a related CoJ note, I’m reading Catherine Newman’s new book, which I’m thoroughly enjoying, and she writes of one of the characters that when he sees a Mac truck on the highway without its trailer it gives him ‘a weird feeling’. And I thought I was the only one who felt this way! Made me chuckle. The gift of a good writer is to find and convey these small quirks
Love these!
Being a mom is the busiest and complicated job on the planet. I really like when my boys appreciate something I do for them.
Your wit makes me smile. You always see me as mom and ME. Your gift is articulating our shared experience. You pick me up by making me smile.
Thanks, Grace!
I want these on sticky notes so I can congratulate my fellow mom colleagues on their good work. or at the grocery store. or at a restaurant. or. or. or. Please?
Yes!!! Would buy these in a hot minute.
Love this – hah!
Also… will there be a gift guide posted this season? I tried the search bar and the most recent one that’s showing (for me, at least) is from 2018… so a bit outdated. I am really hoping for one this year!!!!
Oh no!!!! I really hope so! It always has so many great ideas
The gift guide starts today!
I don’t have children but my dessert policy is extremely reasonable, thank you.
One of the best
Thank you for these sweet reminders – I and my husband both needed them today. ❤️
Awwww, somebody noticed! Thanks Grace, you’ve just made my weekend! Britt, my baby would never nap in a crib. Or nap at all. I finally laid down on the floor with her, curl my body safely around hers. and close to each other, we would sleep. It saved us both! Now she is a very attached but very confident 9 year old. Enjoy those baby naps, however they happen. It won’t be forever, and they are sooooo sweet. Thanks for reminding me of that!
Thanks Kim. Confident and attached is the dream 🥰 thanks for sharing that about your kiddo. Easy to overthink all the things and feel like I’m doing something wrong at times.
The first one is the compliment I didn’t know I needed. I do try hard to make the house smell nice!
Sophie, I’m with you. It made me feel soft and gushy! Thanks cup of Jo!
What’s your secret?
yes, please! what are your secrets? when we toured my house before buying i loved it because it reminded my of my grandmas house, but I don’t want to smell like it anymore!
To those readers asking for smelling nice tips, the way I “reset” the smell of my house (old carpet, unpinning cigarette smell, a bit musty) was to use a combination of eucalyptus, rosemary and peppermint in a diffuser (daily for close to a week) and place small open pots of fresh coffee grounds around key rooms – on window ledges or just on the floor if pets/kids aren’t an issue. Good luck!
Jules: The morning after a good rainstorm when the air is crisp, fresh and still breezy, I open all the windows and doors around the house making sure there’s good air circulation. I leave it this way for several hours or longer if possible. I find it gets the stale smells out, particularly out of the carpet and curtains
I missed these lovely responses, but the key really is airing out the house each morning. Throw the windows open as often as possible! Very frequent vacuuming is also key if you have pets. Two of our bedrooms have carpet and I dream of the day we put down hardwoods in those rooms soft can retain smells. Washing cushion covers and throw blankets in common areas frequently also helps. All of these tips are about keeping smells at bay, but if you’d also like to actively add a scent I recommend picking one relatively subdued scent and sticking to it.
Letting my 3.5 month old sleep on me because she won’t nap in a crib and appreciating this today! 😜
My 10 month old is napping on me right now! 😬you’re doing great!
Enjoy the snuggles!
@Al, sounds like we both need to embrace our reasonable dessert policies today!!
My now-12-year-old spent a couple of months napping on me every single day at the beginning. I remember feeling so fried by it because I was so trapped and afraid to move. But he’s a super great kiddo now, generous and kind, who sleeps in his own bed, and the part I can most viscerally remember now is how good his squishy baby skin felt up against my neck. Hang in there. Your love and patience is important. You are doing great things by sitting still.
Nap trapped by my 8 month old right now. She won’t sleep in her bassinet (which we persist in optimistically keeping in the corner). But surely one day she’ll grow out of it and then I’ll miss the snuggles.
As always, I feel so seen. Love her.
Nailed it.
You are doing a great job, Grace Farris, your detailed attention to a variety of topics is amazing! Xx.
Thank you! This was needed today! Hugs to anyone else feeling shell shocked by daylight savings time and small children…
Same, Sarah! And the choppy school week isn’t helping anything either! Good luck, we’ll all come through. xo
And a month of everyone in your family getting RSV… Hugs!
I feel so seen, thank you Grace Farris!
Yes! Ditto.
the acts of service only we seem to notice… so true, so many!
Oh how much I’d like to believe the one about my freak outs! Since it’s Friday, and CoJ demands it, I shall try.
Pumpkin spice scented candles forever. Have a lovely weekend.
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