Comments on: Kelli’s Law

By: carrster

carrster — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:43:19 +0000

I am right there with you, my dear. I plan too much, try to do it all (by myself, control freak tendencies appear), then get totally stressed when I don’t have enough time to make everything perfect! This has gotten so annoying that my Halloween-Birthday husband doesn’t want us to have parties (on his b-day) any more because I spend the whole day running around and getting everything READY that we don’t have time to enjoy the day.

But oh, I like a nicely set table, finely displayed desserts & smiles on my guests faces….Dahlia’s birthday is right around the corner, let the stress begin!

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:14:31 +0000

This brought tears to my eyes. I drove myself to exhaustion for months for a work event. Working 14 hour days, working weekends. The task was absolutely monumental and a job for a crew, not just me. And I pulled it off.

Yet I have yet to be happy with how well I did and what we accomplish because in my head I keep thinking of little things I could have done better. I go over every conversation thinking I was a dork.

Why do we do this to ourselves? :sigh:

By: SunnyInspiration

SunnyInspiration — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:46:55 +0000

We’re too hard on ourselves sometimes aren’t we–our own worst critics? Looks like you’ve even improved that pumpkin pasta recipe some. I bet it was a fabulous dinner!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:31:05 +0000

I’ve enjoyed reading the comments here because I always think I’m the only one with these kinds of quirks. I am comforted to know there are others like me out there.

For me? I can’t relax when there is something to be done. Whether it’s sorting the mail or getting Thanksgiving dinner on the table, I can’t let it go undone. My husband is forever telling me to “sit down, take a break, that can wait.” And the more stressed I am, the more I spin like a top. Even when I’m sick, exhausted, and have hit the wall, I can be found ripping address labels off junk mail for shredding, or compulsively sorting this pile into that pile, or mindlessly sweeping up the kitty litter trail the cat left, all while muttering and weeping. It’s not pretty, and maybe one day I can let it go.

By: Mom Taxi Julie

Mom Taxi Julie — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:29:48 +0000

Ummm that looks so good! I’m completely the opposite, I hardly ever make lists, fly by the seat of my pants and usually say things are “good enough”. Yeah I’m definitly not a perfectionist lol.

By: Angie in Mexico

Angie in Mexico — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:15:04 +0000

Mmmm, those olives, incredible!
My kooky behavior? I’m the only person (perhaps in the world) who knows how to do it, so I accept no help whatsoever (cause they might ruin it), and end up exhausted, in a bad mood, and of course, with an incomplete task because no normal human can do everything by themselves! Whew!! An the worse part is I can’t seem to learn from experience.
Ah, but that dinner of yours, beautiful!!!

By: Kat

Kat — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:55:45 +0000

And by the way, dear, you rock. There. In black and white. You just have to accept it, AmazinGirl.

By: Kat

Kat — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:54:27 +0000

My brain is jiggling from me emphatically nodding my head at Kelli’s post and everyone’s comments. Kelli dear, does your mom do those things you mentioned too? Because mine does. And so did my grandma, and so, I expect, did her mama. What is now, “Damn. I just KNOW this turkey is going to be like the Sahara,” probably went something like, “Fiddlesticks, the figgy pudding is going to be too figgy, methinks”, two hundred years ago. So you see? Kelli’s law is in fact an inherited behavior. At least that’s my hypothesis.

Actually, I just have to say, I think all of us commenters and AMAZINGIRL Kelli should get together for what would probably be the most awesome potluck ever (even though we would all secretly be worrying about how much our meatballs/brownies/cookies/pumpkin pasta/chips & salsa/figgy pudding, etc. sucked. I think we’d have to make a “no suck” rule–or is that a “no thinking about sucking rule”?) And wine. Lots of yummy wine. And gin and tonics for Finny (and me–tee hee). Yes. This would be fun, I think.

By: Aimee

Aimee — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:42:26 +0000

LOL! Oh, I think we have all had moments of “Kelli’s Law”!

That pumpkin pasta sounds heavenly. And I am so happy to leave a comment here again (lately I had been getting 505 errors when I tried). But I have been here, reading all along.

By: Candace

Candace — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:02:43 +0000

I’m a whining martyr, too! Fortunately, people often find me entertaining instead of just plain irritating. I’m also consumed with guilt about almost everything. I also don’t try a lot of things that I would like to do because I assume I’ll fail. And on and on.

I concur that your meal looks fab and I’m sure your guests enjoyed it thoroughly. But I do understand your frustration.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:17 +0000

That is hilarious!!! I can totally relate!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:52:52 +0000

I’m like Elain, I totally stress about what my home looks like when I have people over. Mainly because I live in a “matchy matchy” neighborhood….and I’m not matchy matchy!!! But I love my house! I love my mixed match table linens, bright colors and thrifted plates and mugs. KOOKY. Anyway, I am sure I would love your linens Kelli. And lord knows I would love the dinner! When are you coming out with your Community Dinner cookbook!?? I think it’s a fab idea!

By: Larissa Stretton

Larissa Stretton — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:18:12 +0000

Hi Kelli!!

Just had to jump in on this one—I’m in the Perfectionist club too!! I drive myself crazy when shopping for clothes for myself, it has to be natural fiber, can’t be picky, can’t be stretchy, can’t be this, can’t be that….argghhhh…why do we do this to ourselves?

Your dinner party sounded wonderful, and yummy, hopefully all you will eventually remember is the fun that you had with your family and friends. We are all much harder on ourselves than our loved ones ever are. They love us warts and all. I’m sure yours do to and only will remember how you put yourself out for them.

Larissa

By: rohanknitter

rohanknitter — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:11:35 +0000

Picky? Perfectionistic??? Let’s just say that every time I knit a gift, I overthink it to the point where’s it’s just crazy. I just finished a scarf for my dad…with the 4th different yarn I’ve tried.

By: finnyknits

finnyknits — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:26:49 +0000

You just care so much! But congrats on what I can only assume was a lovely evening.