THIS LIFE DOES NOT SUCK

| leather leggings (splurge) (steal) | velvet blazer sale! | pumps | image by sydney clawson | 

Sort of at a loss for words today. As the year is quickly closing I feel like I should have some words of wisdom on motherhood or a great idea for things to do while we are on holiday break, or how to beat the flu season, but today, I got nothing. My mind is spinning for words and thoughts and ideas on how I can contribute to my readers, to the world, to everyone, as we round up the end of the year. And for some reason it hasn’t been easy. Perhaps it's been a crazy month. And perhaps it's Christmas in a day and that can be stressful. Or maybe it's the seismic shift of my heart. So here’s what I came up with.

image by sydney clawson 

2017. It was a year. Another year. And no, it was not a doozy. No, it did not suck. But it wasn’t perfect either. And all the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the many tears I cried for many different reasons counteracted the many many smiles I had on my face that contributed to my new laugh lines on my face. And although not my favorite, I looked at myself in my iPhone camera (so 2017) while trying to take a selfie with my Bo, and when I saw our smiles line up like the most perfect swell on the Pacific ocean, I lost my breath. I also lost count of how many lines there were on my face. I lost track of time. Of age. Of sadness. Of happiness. I was literally frozen in the moment with my son, opening up my heart to the millions of possibilities  that the end of a year could possibly bring. I snapped a photo, looked at it, showed my son and we laughed so hard. We giggled to the point of slightly peeing (me, not him) my pants. I realized that in that near future of ours on the horizon, no matter wherever I am and whatever I may doing, or wherever we are going, we are so damn lucky. Another year, another chance at life. At freaking life you guys. Like we’re still here. And Bo’s heart is beating, as is mine. As are the other 5 in my beautiful family.  And this moment in time, we’ll never have exactly again. So here’s what I got. Not advice, not how perfectly I can clear a toddler’s nose with saline spray and a good suction. And not how happy it makes me when a good sale is on and I get to score an Italian handbag for a 1/3 of the price. Not how well I’ve survived twin motherhood or how imperfect I’ve been in my marriage. But this. This is what came pouring out of my heart.

The little things really do matter.

Like, the hugging around my neck from a toddler who loves his mother fiercely and passionately, deserves 100% of my attention.

The emails can wait 10 minutes and no one is gonna die. 

A triple chocolate chip cookie with walnuts is worth the 350 calories, full stop.

Date nights are only date nights if you are alone with your husband with no work friends and no children.

Picking up your Dad’s call on your 30 minute ride home can provide you a mountain of wisdom, insight and warmth.

The truth your Mom speaks to you sometimes isn’t what you want to hear, but what you need to hear.

A Mother’s instinct is not taught, it’s part of your makeup the moment you become a mother.

You can definitely have it all, but not all at the same time.

Kissing is totally underrated.

Diapers are extremely expensive and such a damn waste that gets poured into the earth.

I still want to see Africa one day and look up at the blue sky and tell my Grandma “I made it.”

Success is how you define it, and no one else.

Girlfriends are the medicine of life.

Sex does get better with age.

Marriage with twins is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Experiences are way more valuable than things.

But nice things are definitely not overrated.

Our children are our greatest teachers.

Slowing down to be fully present with the people you love, is one of the most important lessons of the 40’s.

What people think of you is none of your business.

What makes you happy is 100% what you should be doing.

Teaching children that love is always the answer is my main prayer for life.

Being a mother is my greatest, most treasured joy I’ve ever experienced.

That's all I got. 

Oh, and thank you God for this life. This life does not suck. 

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to each and every one of you. K bye.  xx Maile