Embracing Imperfection

I had a bad day today.

I often write about the good days, because who wants to hear bad news? I know I don't. I love the positive side of life so much, I solely focus on good news stories at KWTX in a daily segment called "Tell Me Something Good."

But not all days are good, and I had one of them today. I wanted to share this while it's fresh on my mind because only sharing the positive side of life is misleading. Social media tends to make us all feel like everyone else has their life together but us. The kids' perfect outfits, the familys' perfectly posed photographs, the "A" honor roll, or a kid's homerun.

But life isn't always what it seems.

Today, I yelled at my kids. I got frustrated with my husband. I cried while hiding behind a tree in my front yard. I missed my 3rd grader's end-of-the-six-weeks award ceremony. Not on purpose - I just plain forgot. When I picked up 9-year-old Natalie from school, she was fighting back tears as she climbed into my car. "Where were you?" she asked.

It dawned on me that the event on my calendar went unnoticed.

Tears began to flow down my face, so much so that I could barely see the road on the drive home. My kids tried to comfort me. I felt like a failure. A bad mom. I'd been feeling like that for days, between working, getting to ball games, attending after-school events, homework and everything in between. I felt exhausted, overwhelmed and stretched so thin I couldn't possibly be successful with anything.

So, today I'm allowing myself to have a bad day and accept I'm not perfect and, in fact, am far from it.

Thank goodness for good friends and family who help us through the tough days. I'm thankful for a boss who told me to rest, and for a friend who took video and pictures of Natalie accepting her awards when she noticed I was absent. I'm grateful for a husband who encouraged me when I was undeserving of understanding.

As moms, we put way too much pressure on ourselves to be everything for everyone. And every once in a whilewe remember we're human.

So, today I'm okay with not being okay.

But I'm also thankful for a life that, while not perfect, is pretty darn good. And that is good news.

BY JULIE HAYS

Salty Dog Cocktail

RECIPE BY AVERIE SUNSHINE

FIND MORE GREAT RECIPES AT AVERIECOOKS.COM

Ingredients

¼ cup coarse sea salt, for rim

Ice

1½ ounces vodka or gin

4 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice

Grapefruit wedge, optional for garnishing Lime slice, optional for garnishing

Directions

● Use your finger to run a bit of water around the rim of a cocktail glass.

● Add the sea salt to a small plate or saucer and dip the water rimmed glass in the salt, gently moving around to coat.

● Fill the glass about ¾-full with ice.

● Add the vodka, grapefruit juice, and stir with a bar spoon.

● Optionally garnish with a grapefruit wedge and lime slice and serve immediately.