Rules make me me crazy. It just seems like nothing should ALWAYS be true. That said, there are some things I almost always believe and act on, and others I wish that were so.
- There is a better option than Comic Sans. Even if you are a first grade teacher.
- A good host is a relaxed host. Do what you can ahead of time then relax and enjoy the party.
- It’s not a stain, it’s the patina of life.
- Even if orange isn’t on trend it is still awesome.
- Salt is good. (This is my favorite salt.)
- When in doubt trust my eye.
- Talk it out. If it scares them off that is just efficient friend sorting.
- Admit my mistakes. Explain my mistakes. Laugh at my mistakes.
- There is always a more thoughtfully designed version of whatever you are using. Its OK to upgrade for form or function, particularly for items that you touch every day.
- Multiples make design. If one is good, 3 is better and 5 is probably best.
- Except lamps. Those should be in pairs.
- If I like it, it will “match”
- Rules are made for testing.
- Ask people for help, offer to help. People like helping.
- Say “no.” Smile. Offer zero or one reason.
- Cleaning products should smell good.
- Eight hours of sleep a day. (more during crisp fall weather)
- When in doubt…coconut oil is the answer. Or ball jars. Or yes.
- If the baby/kid needs you, you will know. No need to check.
- 3 days/week minimum.
- Stop fighting it. Good TV is good. Its like a grown up play date with friends you can never offend.
- Early is on time, on time is late, late is early for the next thing.
- Say thank you.
- An unexamined life it not worth living.
- Walmart isn’t the best store for anything.
- Notice the bright spots. Except in Walmart.
- Eat local.
- If I want to know what matters consult my calendar and my check book. Actions > words.
- Storage containers need to be clear or mesh. Or they end up being pre-garbage cans.
Rules I wish I lived by:
- If it takes less than 2 minutes do it now.
- One toy in two toys out.
- Routines make things easier.
- 10,000 steps a day.
- If I don’t know what to say, say nothing.
- Everything is exactly how it should be.
- There are ways to celebrate without food.
- Guilt is a useless response.
- Everyone should play an instrument, speak two languages and know a martial art. Pretty much a triple fail. But if Everything is how it should be then none of that matters anyways.
- Use a matter of fact tone.
- Spend as many awake hours away from a screen as on a screen.
- Old dog= new tricks. (drawing, tennis, spanish, coding, I could maybe actually learn something.)
- WWBBD?
- Rushing keeps you from living right here right now, and feels bad too.
- Everyone is fighting a fight I know nothing about. (Because that would mean I admit that I do not know it all.)
- No one cares how badly I dance.
- No matter how much I want it, I will want something else more later. So appreciate what I have.
- Potato chips are not the answer.
- Should is a shitty word.
- Replace But with And. It is more honest and more optimistic (if less grammatically correct.)
- Breathe.
What about you? Which rules do you follow and which do you break?
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Anna Rosenblum Palmer is a freelance writer based in Denver, CO. She writes about sex, parenting, cat pee, bi-polar disorder and the NFL; all things inextricably intertwined with her mental health. In her free time she teaches her boys creative swear words, seeks the last missing puzzle piece and thinks deeply about how she is not exercising. Her writing can be found on Babble, Parent.co, Great Moments in Parenting, Ravishly, Good Men Project, Sammiches and Psych Meds, Playpen, Crazy Good Parent, and YourTango. She also does a fair amount of navel gazing on her own blog at annarosenblumpalmer.com.
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Hmmm, what WOULD Brian Boitano do?
He would get his ass kicked by bill belichick. My bb.
Best rule you have: It’s not a stain, it’s the patina of life.
And, I don’t think this is true: “There are ways to celebrate without food.”
How about a 3rd category? Rules that should not be rules at all. For instance the worst/first rule ingrained in us as kids gets us absolutely nowhere as adults:
“If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Such bullshit.
And do as I say not as I do. Ie: I’m a hypocrite.
A rule that I’m trying to ingrain in my own life – click through & comment. So many people enrich my day through blog bits, and they deserve a thank you.
thank you!
Embarrassed to admit I had to look up Comic Sans. But I agree.
You should be proud, not embarrassed.
Ask people for help, offer to help. People like helping.
I like this one. People do like helping. When someone offers to help, take them up on it. I think you are actually doing them a favor. It makes them feel better about whatever is going with you because they are able to do something even if it is small like cook a meal, take your kids, drive you to an appointment. Whatever.
If the baby/kid needs you, you will know. No need to check.
Tried + tested. Wish I could tell that to every parent.
Love this list. Am inspired. May make my own!
Great lists! Vigorously nodding my head at these two: Talk it out. If it scares them off that is just efficient friend sorting.
Admit my mistakes. Explain my mistakes. Laugh at my mistakes.
[…] my hosts. I don’t imagine, given the level of order in the house, that they share my “patina of life” […]
I love “Should is a shitty word” oh how true!
I love this one: Replace But with And. It is more honest and more optimistic (if less grammatically correct.) “But” makes us feel as if we are walking contradictions–when in reality there’s just more to know about us! I agree 100%, no buts!
But butts are fine!
A couple that come to mind. Always say yes to the friend’s invitation to hang out even though you want to stay home and clean. Life goes better if I meal plan and grocery shop EVERY Saturday. Experiences over stuff. Read perspectives you disagree with often. Want and love what you have.
All excellent. Particularly the want and love what you have. The life changing magic of of tidying up helps a lot with creating a format dos that.
My mum has a rule – she never turns down an invitation unless she’s already booked out that day. She told me that she used to turn down party invites because she fancied watching a tv programme instead, for example, but as she’s got older & since my dad was diagnosed with dementia 12 years ago, she has felt that opportunities have been missed in the past and she does her best to grab each moment now. It’s a rule I try to follow, but not always succeed as yet… I’m working on it!
One toy in two toys out, does that apply to shoes to? And routines. I try but I can’t!
Love the cleaning products should smell nice rule …. ( I like trying different brands for cleaning products, liquid soap, washing up liquid, washing powder etc especially when they have a new smell out ) ….
Always wipe the toilet seat before you sit down in a public restroom.