Some days are just not enough; not enough money, not enough fabric, not enough time. It is usually stressful around the holidays, wanting to make everything “just so” I would spend hours researching craft ideas and traditions and events to make my season perfect, full. I spend time flipping through craft blogs, library books, local print magazines looking for what I could do to give people, to show my affection and love. This year, with a four-month old and a new family and new struggles, I had even more self-applied-pressure to have the first perfect Christmas for my baby. And I didn’t get even 15% of my projects started. I wanted to make these and these and these and maybe these too. I didn’t.
Days ago Kimberly posted on my blog, which I haven’t had the time to update. It reminded me that I enjoy writing, that I enjoy posting because it gives me the chance to congratulate myself and feel proud of all that I have done. Writing helps me focus on what is most important. All the crafting, sewing, tradition making I do is for my family. And for me, my family is enough. Not just my men (my darling C and little boy A) but my brother who comes to visit and play board games with me every couple of weeks. My sister and her family in Olympia who always let us stay overnight and make delicious food and stay up late playing Catan. My other sister in Kansas with her new baby girl. My other brother in college, who is graduating this year, but makes time to talk to me regularly. I am a lucky girl, to have such a fantastic family. And I didn’t realize any of this on my own.
I read this post, here, by Bambino Steps, “You are Enough.” I have a community, of close and not so close people, that I keep near. And while I have a new infant to take care of, when he naps, when I am exhausted, I use my iphone from my husband and read my favorite blogs. I don’t post comments often, and it might make me a lurker, but I have blogs that I adore and feel like I am “close” to the author, like they are my friend. I want to build on these relationships and have a network of bloggers that I can ask questions too, that we can support each other, that we can remind ourselves that we are enough.
I am a little surprised I finished this last Saturday. It came out just perfect, and my little man likes it. The tutorial is from the fabulous “craftiness is not optional” and is great. I am taking her fabulous idea and going to make a couple more for my baby, with different sizes. It fits perfect! He isn’t quite sitting up on his own yet, but his drool from his first tooth coming in certainly makes this apron useful! I used flannel on both sides for extra softness.
So I hope that you understand that you are enough, and that the pile of crafting projects you have half started, or half daydreamed about, are wonderful at whatever level you get to them. That the time you have, you spend with the ones you love. That the energy and adoration you put into your projects are appreciated by the recipients. That there is time enough for love.
Best of luck this new year, with all your goals and dreams.
Love,
MaLora
I like to make and do. After my day is over and the bike riding is done, the making begins. Join me in my adventures!
what a lovely post! We as women do need to remind ourselves we are enough, and doing all that we can! Love the Bapron with that little reminder!
Thank you!
Oh my! MaLora this post is BEAUTIFUL. I am so absolutely touched that you this bib – it is so cute (dang I love stripes) and your tiny stitching is just beautiful. “Self-applied pressure…” yes to that. Absolutely. The trick for me, when my mind is totally whirring and I’m freaking out about not having things perfect or completing one out of the one million craft projects that I want to complete, is that what I have right now in front of me, and me included, is always enough.
Thank you for this. I am absolutely going to share!
Adorable bib and baby! You also captured what the holidays often are for me; lots of overreaching and beating myself up about not getting all the things I want to done. I was really sad I didn’t sew a doll for my baby for her first holiday; now I am just going to aim for her birthday in April. Maybe I will embroider “enough” on the doll somewhere? Lovely post.
Thank you! I have plans for toys for my little man too, and realized that he will enjoy them more when he is older anyway. So the chewbacca stuffie can be made by August – extended deadlines are awesome!
chewbacca stuffie–fantastic!!!!
MaLora I loved this post…thank you