Should, shouldn’t, should’ve.
One night, while binging The Mindy Project, I viewed (multiple times) a commercial for Halo Top Ice Cream. The man eating the ice cream watched others and thought about what he “should” be doing.
To be honest, I do the same thing as the man eating ice cream in the commercial. The pressure of what I “should” be doing as a mother, as a working mother/real estate agent, and as a wife comes at me from all directions.
Thoughts about what I think I should be doing, what I should’ve done in the past, and where I think I should be in life get into my head.
I’m “shoulds-ing” all over the place; it’s a thief of joy and no way to operate.
“Shoulds” in my own life:
- I shouldn’t “just” be a mom.
- I should get a job.
- I shouldn’t be working so much.
- I should be more present.
- I shouldn’t be on my phone so much.
- I shouldn’t eat that.
- I should make more time for my husband, kids, self.
“Shoulds” in regards to parenting:
- I shouldn’t over-schedule my children.
- My children should be involved in activities.
- My children should go to school full-time (our district only opened in hybrid this year).
- I should’ve homeschooled my children this year.
- My children should be able to play happily on their own and get along (does that happen with siblings? Asking as an only-child raising 3 kids)
- My daughter should know her letters.
- My children should eat more vegetables.
