I fell down the Pinterest hole this week.
It started innocently enough. I was pinning some fair trade shoes I found so others could learn about the company.
But then I started looking through my stream. This isn’t always a bad thing — sometimes I find much needed encouragement or new recipes to try. The other night, though, I found myself susceptible to the “not enoughs.”
When we were expecting our first son, we diligently planned his room. The nursery had a backyard theme, complete with a screen door, a swing, and a beautiful mural painted by the grandfathers. It was amazing.
We moved into our current house while I was on bed rest. Baby #2 was just lucky to have a pack n’ play next to our bed. His room was filled with boxes for months.
Eventually we got the boys’ rooms fairly organized. Ian’s room has curtains (although David’s still doesn’t), and I made some cute art to hang on the walls (although half of it has fallen down). We have toy chests and cute IKEA boxes. When everything is cleaned up, the rooms look nice.
But looking through Pinterest, I decided I was really behind the room decorating curve. My boys don’t have chalkboard walls or antique maps. There’s no unifying theme, no rustic furniture. Clearly, I’m missing a vital skill that other moms have.
A friend once heard me talk about Real Simple magazine and remarked that it was like pornography for women. At the time I was a bit stunned by her terminology, but I’m starting to see the similarities. With sites like Pinterest, the ability to compare my house to image upon image of unrealistic perfection is right at my fingertips, ready to sow discontent in my heart.
I’m not trying to trash Pinterest (or any other service) as a whole. The internet can be such a fantastic tool to celebrate each other’s art and ingenuity. I’m realizing more and more, though, that I need to guard my heart as I absorb these new ideas.
The truth is, guys, I have a really great home. When we were house shopping, I made a list of what I wanted in my dream home — and I found a house with everything on the list. And we’ve taken this fantastic house and added even better details. It’s still a work in progress, because we’re developing some other projects, too (like raising two beautiful boys).
How sad for me to let my eyes wander to other homes, other decor, other families, instead of feasting my eyes and my heart on the stunning bounty I’ve been given.
At times, I feel the same way about Pinterest. But then I remind myself – these photos come from THOUSANDS of people all over the world. (At least with Martha Stewart, there is the illusion of being just one amazing woman) And most of them are not just your average Joe – they are people who do these things for a living or full time. Photographers, professional food bloggers, nail artists, graphic artists, professional designers, etc. Those awesome room designs? A good chance it was not made naturally in a normal home. Its staged, professionally shot and absent of imperfections that make a home… well.. a home. It would be the same as comparing yourself to photoshopped images of models – unrealistic and totally unfair. But it is ok to be inspired by something you find lovely – incorporate it and mold it into what brings you and your family the most joy.
Thanks, Amy! Great reminder that many of those images are from professionals!