Bring on the Messy Moments of Life

My child has been teaching me how messy isn’t bad. It’s okay. It’s part of the process. Lean into it! Messy isn’t bad!

If you’ve ever fed a baby or a toddler in a high chair, you know what it’s like.

Little Man uses his food like a makeover artist. Food explodes everywhere – his cheeks, nose, eyebrows, eyelashes, forehead, ears, hair, thighs.. Along the way, he grabs fistfuls of food and shoves it into his mouth.

At times it’s a bit gross.

“You just crammed that into your mouth – why did you yank it out again to examine it? “

It’s a no-holds-barred sensory experience every time. He doesn’t care if he has food on his nose or in his ears. He’s not concerned about what others think about how he looks. Why should he?

If he doesn’t want to eat it, he can squish it, paint with it, or toss it overboard.

You can live intentionally with passion and purpose as God’s beloved – even when life is messy.

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Lessons from a yogurt faced child

I want to practice changing my mindset to be a bit more like Little Man’s food-playing time. Someone who:

• Doesn’t focus as much on what others think.
• Fully enjoys the present moment.
• Doesn’t get upset if it gets a little messy – sometimes that’s part of the process.
• Plays with the resources and opportunities in front of me.

Research backs it up: Messy can be good

Before Little Man began solid foods, I learned how getting messy with food helps children learn more effectively and develop their sensory capacities. Swooping in and cleaning them every time they get something on themselves can actually be a deterrent. Learn more.

Exploring the textures of their food with their mouth and hands can actually be highly educational and fun. Learn more.

Challenging “tidy is best” mindset

Note: A few products/resources are linked. None of them are currently affiliate links. They just rock my world!

I need to actively challenge my “tidy is best” mindset. Let my kid get messy. It’ll be okay.

It’s been helpful to ask myself, “What’s the worst that can happen?”

• Is this safe? #obvious
• Little Man needs a bath? We both really enjoy bath time. More fun? Count us in!
• I need to do more laundry? Little Man wears minimal clothing at meals. Using a couple silicone pocket bibs has been a game-changer. It’s easier to clean for me and has a convenient pocket for him to find dropped food. Win-win for us.
• I need to clean the floor? Hello robot vacuum, my favorite little house-cleaning buddy. Our splat mat helps catch some (not all!) flying food.
• I get messy, too? This Frump Fighters message has helped me: little people tend to be hard on clothes. Wear clothes that you realize are going to get some wear and tear and it’s a lot easier to relax. PSA: You can totally feel cute and pulled-together to do this, too!

Some of our go-to tools:

Recapping why messy moments can create some of the best memories

Years from now, I want to remember mealtimes with Little Man for the fun we had than power struggles over cleanliness.

This little mindset shift has helped me be more “okay” with messy baby-toddler activities. When I find myself feeling anxious about a possible mess, I ask myself, “What’s the worst that could happen?”

Really, isn’t life messy? How often do things go according to plan? How often do we have glitches, setbacks, and surprises come along our path?

All. The. Freakin’. Time.

Why not lean into the mess? Rather than dwelling on the nuisance of cleaning up, let’s try focusing on making a sweet memory with your loved ones. Messy isn’t bad (every single time).

It’s a game-changer.

You can live intentionally with passion and purpose as God’s beloved.

*As always, I’m a work in progress on this. Daily, y’all! It’s a daily thing!

P.S. Want some crazy simple steps to start living intentionally? Grab the Embrace Your Potential Playbook. It’ll help you zoom in on your God-gifted personality and give you practical tips to be more intentional, passionate, and purposeful as God’s beloved so you can become the best version of yourself.