Shocked Mommy In Heels: February 2014

I like to do things well. That's not exactly newsworthy.

But the flipside of this is that I have a tendency to stop doing things that I don't find success in.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not opposed to taking a chance at something new. I just end up not repeating the less than stellar results if it doesn’t turn out so great.

Over the course of my life, I have tried a lot of things. Ice Skating, Basketball (yes, yes I did…all 4 feet of me), Piano, Singing, Math club, Journalism, Politics (If Girls State counts), Cheerleading, Art, Tech crew for plays...

Some things stick around. Goat cheese? Delish. Some things don't. Frog legs? Nah, I'll pass next time. It's not the best trait to have because I tend to shy away from participating in things where I can't excel...like, for instance sports…of any kind. Or dancing in public.

When I ventured into motherhood, I knew I’d be faced with some serious pressure to perform. I am not crafty. I am not the best housekeeper. I am a decent cook, a better baker. My drawings are legendary for their lack of depicting what I’m trying to convey. All things creative really just don’t come naturally to me. Those skills are kind of essential when you need to teach your kiddos ABCs or learn to color pictures. Kids don’t want organized bullet lists and a beautifully detailed meal plan. They want messy. They want imagination.

I wonder in awe at my family and friends and fellow mommies who are so very talented with all things kids and crafts day after day. In fact, now that I think about it, most of the people closest to me actually do excel in this area…an interesting insight into my subconscious need to surround myself with people who can do things I cannot, apparently.

I digress.

So, the bottom line: I didn’t get the crafty gene. Unfortunately, it’s kind of a big one when you have kids. I already mentioned that if I give it a good shot and still can’t quite pull out a win, my next step is total and complete avoidance of trying it again.

So I stick with what works. I bring packaged food to parties. I do birthday meals out instead of trying to recreate the perfect dish in my home. I buy valentines instead of make them. I don’t even own cookie cutters. Seriously.

But my mom’s training, my college internships, my PR degree and the endless supply of events I’ve planned professionally have perfectly equipped me for one thing: I can plan a party.

It’s my skill. It’s my contribution.

I keep a running list on my phone all year of ideas, take pictures as the months go by of things I might want to include. I involve my kids in the process, designing the cake, choosing the theme. Rarely are the ideas mine, I will readily admit. I research for hours and meticulously plan every tiny detail.

I stick with what works.

I know. It’s silly. It’s possibly over the top. It may cost too much. It is (in the most recent case) a Pinterest explosion. But bear with me…it is my way of showing my kids that there is a fragment of mommy-ness inside. A little creativity. Some imagination.

And a whole lotta birthday love.