you are enough

December 20th, 2011 · Bambino Steps (Kimberly) ·

One perk (and minor annoyance) to being a stay-at-home mama, is that I rarely pay attention to the date. Did you know that Christmas is in five days? I didn’t, until yesterday that is. I honestly thought I had another week of preparation. Whoopsie doodles.

Last night, when I should have been doing one of 5,000 things on my to-do list, or perhaps more practical, sleeping, I stitched up this little piece while watching Home Alone. I needed to do it. I had to remind myself that I am truly enough, just as I am, right now, in this moment. Our home, even in its current disheveled state, is enough. The contents of our fridge and pantry, are enough. It is unrealistic to think that I have time to make all of the handmade gift ideas that I have swimming around in my head, create a plethora of lovely handmade holiday items for our home, and also have time to partake in the numerous holiday festivities that we want to attend. It’s just not possible. And you know something? That’s okay. I might still have 5,000 things left to do, but now it’s about prioritizing those and letting go of the unnecessary, so that I might truly enjoy what’s left of this holiday season. Because that’s what it’s all about.

I wish you all health and happiness this holiday season, from my family, to yours.

And if you’re feeling bogged down or stressed out, please realize, that you are enough.

18 Responses to “you are enough”

gail on December 20th, 2011 at 3:38 pm #

lovely sentiment, and thanks for the reminder. hope you have a wonderful holiday! p.s. i never know the date either

Melissa "Melicious" Joulwan on December 20th, 2011 at 6:36 pm #

Oh! I totally love this. Merry Christmas to you!

Carla on December 20th, 2011 at 9:51 pm #

Beautiful work, beautiful words. You rule. Happy holidays!

rachael on December 21st, 2011 at 1:07 pm #

have i mentioned that i love this? i think i forgot (shame on me!). i linked to it on my post today. perfection!

Carolyn on December 21st, 2011 at 3:06 pm #

I love this message! So true.

cpcable on December 21st, 2011 at 8:42 pm #

A wonderful mantra, for all seasons. Have a lovely holiday, Kimberly!

Sascha on December 23rd, 2011 at 9:48 pm #

I haven’t stitched a thing in a week. I also had planned on Christmas Day pj’s for the kids. They are now scheduled as New Years Eve pj’s because ya know what? I am enough. No one will get anything remotely handmade this holiday and that’s just fine. Have a wonderful holiday!

Jane on December 26th, 2011 at 2:43 pm #

Ah… what a lovely sentiment! I like your priorities.

Amber on December 28th, 2011 at 2:46 pm #

Beautiful Kimberly, and something I needed to hear right now. Thank you.

kendra on December 29th, 2011 at 11:34 pm #

oh i love the stitched mantra. so perfect. <3

. tiny twist creative . on January 1st, 2012 at 10:19 pm #

I love this post Kimberly, I have chosen a new word for 2012, its simplify. Because I can’t do a million handmade gifts, bake my own bread, my own yogurt, organize my home, have coffee with friends, lots of playdates, work out…. I could do some of those, or maybe even all of them sometimes, but it comes to choices on what is enough. Love it, happy new year to you!

- Bambino Steps (Kimberly) on January 3rd, 2012 at 10:45 am #
  
  This is fantastic Erin! Simplify is a great word for 2012. And you are right, we can’t accomplish absolutely everything that we want to do. I want to do it all! But you know something? Trying to do it all has left me feeling quite burnt out, and not able to give my best self to anyone, including myself! Yes, it truly does come to choices on what is enough, and I would like to hold myself to a more realistic standard this year. Happy New Year!
  
Angela on January 6th, 2012 at 7:56 am #

Thank you! Loved this post; it applies to my whole year. Also thanks for the inspiration. Instead of having sticky notes with wonderful words stuck all over my house, I can stitch some!
How’d you get the words so straight though? Happy New Year!
xo,
Ang

- Bambino Steps (Kimberly) on January 16th, 2012 at 2:10 pm #
  
  Oh I think the words look crooked (because they are!), but thank you. I didn’t draw lines or anything, I just winged it, writing the words first in pencil, and then embroidering over the top of my lines.
  
MaLora on January 13th, 2012 at 12:12 am #

I loved this post – good for all year round. I get so stressed out wanting to do and make everything right. My piles of fancy fabric overwhelm me. I want to blog more, but every minute away from my baby bothers me. I want to sew clothes for him but he is growing so fast! Already over 20lbs and only 5months old. I will work on this – if you can, I can. Stay at home mom’s gotta stick together. And simplify. And create. And enjoy the moments we can, and relax about the ones we can’t. Accept that what I can do is enough, and is great. I am going to go hold him until he sleeps then cut out a bib for him. Maybe I will embroider “enough” on it – so everytime I wipe his tiny chin I will be reminded to do my best and rejoice.

- Bambino Steps (Kimberly) on January 13th, 2012 at 8:14 am #
  
  MaLora this comment means so much to me. I loved all your words and yes, yes, yes. I agree with absolutely everything. It is true – us mothers DO have to stick together and above all, support one another. It is so easy to get down on myself when I see others doing infinitely more than I am, but at the end of the day, we all only have 24 hours and at the end of those 24 hours, I want to feel good about how I spent them.
  
MaLora on January 16th, 2012 at 1:36 pm #

I did make the bib, and am darn proud of it. Thank you for the inspiration. http://birdandbicycle.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/enough/

- Bambino Steps (Kimberly) on January 16th, 2012 at 2:04 pm #
  
  Oh MaLora I am so excited about this!