You are allowed to live life less than perfectly.

When one child throws up on the way to a hike, another falls in the water, and you plan to take family pictures, it’s okay to laugh and cancel the family pictures. The hike was still beautiful.

When both of your small children are grumpy, it’s okay to put them both in the beds and take the time to nap yourself.

It’s okay to not get chores done well, to have a house that looks lived in and is not ready for a photo shoot. A clean house is an impossible goal, but cleaning up occasionally and following a basic chore schedule at least means it’s not all that bad.

It’s okay to spend 10 years writing a book that might not ever get done. It’s okay to finish a project months after you thought you would. You are still creating things and helping people.

If you want to go have a picnic up the canyon instead of finishing the house projects that you planned on getting done, go for it. The house projects will still be there, but watching a toddler walking through the fall leaves is fleeting.

When you have a great idea of something to do with the children and they all whine at you and it never happens, maybe it never needed to happen. If we miss out on opportunities now, there are always new opportunities in the future.