Do I have any fellow country music fans out there? How long have you been listening? I started in about 3rd grade, which I can say was before country got very cool. I always loved the stories in country music and though I listened to my fair share of Nelly and Ludacris, I always kept a soft spot for Tim, Faith and Garth.
When I was a sophomore in high school, Phil Vassar released a song called Just Another Day in Paradise. As further proof that I’ve always been a sap, I loved that song. It’s not musical genius, but the story is sweet and I always hoped that one day I’d have that kind of paradise.
Yesterday I realized I finally do.
It actually began with me losing my keys. Now, I’ve misplaced them before, but this time I turned the house upside down and they really were no where to be found. I searched the car, the laundry, the trash… nope. So I ended up having to cancel Kaitlyn’s 1 year doctor appointment. After cancelling I went to grab a water bottle out of the car and…
Bam. So obviously sticking out in plain site from under the seat.
I wanted to have something productive to show for the mix up in schedule, so I figured I’d finally move the laundry in the wash over to the dryer only to find the clothes covered with those little gooey beads.
FYI- Pullups are not made for the washing machine. I’m sure that little incident didn’t help our washing machine that is on its last legs anyway. Oops.
I realized at this point our electricians for the bathroom never showed up, Koda had just run back inside and through the house in all her muddy paw print glory and the girls both wanted to push the same toy shopping cart, which was evident from the screaming coming from the next room.
Right about then that song popped into my head and I couldn’t help but smile.
Well it’s OK. It’s so nice. Just another day in paradise.
And there’s no place that I’d rather be.
So we rolled with it. Jammies all day? Sure! Veggie straws and hummus for lunch? Why not?! No naps all around? WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
That’s what I love about this motherhood gig. It totally knocks me off my scheduled ways sometimes in order to show me the beauty in the unstructured.
We spent an hour playing dress up, beauty parlor and doctor when we should have been having a proper lunch.
We took a trip to the movie rental store during what should have been nap time.
The girls had a “beach party” while I tended to round two of clean-out the washer and poured myself a cup of afternoon coffee.
We headed out to water the garden, just as some rain arrived and soaked us.
I relaxed the rules and let one of Hailey’s TV tokens stand for an entire Mickey movie.
I entertained Kaitlyn’s demands to be fed a steady stream of strawberries.
I decided yogurt would suffice for dinner.
I tossed the girls in and out of the bath pretty quickly, anxious to change into jammies myself, but then Hailey actually waited patiently in bed for me while I put Kaitlyn down. My oldest and I snuggled and read two books with her head resting on my chest. Sweetness.
When David got home I scrounged together what I could since I skipped out on meal planning this week.
And we filled in the gaps with cashews and a glass of wine while we chatted about our days. Well, about an hour before we both crashed hard. 5:15 am comes quickly after all.
Oh Phil, you got in man. It’s just another day in paradise and there’s no place that I’d rather be…
Karen says
Love it!!!
These are the days we will always remember about parenthood.
Thanks for making me smile this morning:-)
Brynn says
Yesterday I was tearing through my email desperately seeking to find an important note. After 20 minutes I gave up and went on with my day. The next time I checked it was sitting front and center in my inbox. Can we classify this under “I know I am too busy when…” Love this post.
Brittany Dixon says
Haha, at least I’m not alone! I was like HOW DID I MISS THIS?!
Hilary says
I just wanted to say your posts have been spot on for me lately 🙂 I grew up in Charlotte (live near Raleigh now), am a SAHM to a 19 month old daughter and have another girl due in August. You keep giving me glimpses of the crazy and fun that is to come and I love it! That song was also one of my favorites growing up and I text it to my husband sometimes on those extra ridiculous days haha. Thanks for showing the joy you can find in the midst of the madness!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh congratulations!! You have so much fun (and yes, chaos too ;)) ahead of you!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
Beautiful post! Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches. And your punches are pretty cute! 😀
Rachel says
This post is my favorite of yours!
Brittany Dixon says
Thank you Rachel!
Parita @ myinnershakti says
Even though I don’t have kids yet, there are plenty of days where I just have to go with the flow and give up on any plans I had. And while it annoys me at first, I find that things just sort of fall in place…and life’s just more fun that way! Great post!
Sarah says
This post really hits home for me! I have a newborn son and also a daughter going through the thick of her “terrible twos”. Life has gotten really hectic, exhausting, and at times quite stressful, but on those crazy days I really need to remind myself that I have always wanted to be a mom and this really IS paradise. I am so grateful to have 2 beautiful, healthy children, a wonderful husband, and a lovely home. What else could I ask for? 🙂
Brittany Dixon says
Congratulations on your new baby boy! Those days figuring out how to handle two are stressful. Though they are wonderful and yes, we have SO much to be grateful for, it’s ok to feel like it’s too much some days too. <3 🙂
Sarah says
Thank you 🙂 Your comment definitely makes me feel better! <3
Laura says
Love this! I have two girls the exact same ages as Hailey and Kaitlyn, and this is how I feel about life lately. I have always loved that song too, and whenever things don’t go as I planned I try to smile and remember how lucky I am. (Key word here is TRY, I don’t always succeed!)
Brittany Dixon says
I don’t always succeed either! Just ask my wine glass and husband 😉
Caitlin says
What a sweet post 🙂 I love that song, I remember listening to it when it first came out and my parents would play it.
Brittany says
What a cute post! I remember that song too!
Glenda says
Thanks for this wonderfully honest post. I really enjoyed reading it and as always appreciated your positivity
Heather says
Sometimes those are the best kind of days… the ones where you just say to heck with it and let loose. We’ve been having more of those days than I usually mean to lately since we’ve had a lot of craziness going on. Honestly, I think it’s days like the one you described that tend to stick with kids the most. 😉
Brittany Dixon says
So true! I still remember having backwards dinners as a kid, when my mom would make cookies and we’d eat those first 🙂
Rebecca says
Loved this post! Sometimes things go wrong only to help us see something we are missing. I’m impressed you can turn so many frustrations into a chance to be grateful – that is something I need to do more of, because we have all had days like this! Thanks for being real – it’s really refreshing. Here’s to a day that runs more smoothly for you today!
Alyssa @ Life of bLyss says
So funny, ever since just reading the title of your post and having no idea you’d reference the Phil Vassar song, I’ve had it TOTALLY stuck in my head.
Like…. forever and ever. It won’t end (but I love you anyway).
Brittany Dixon says
I think I could help you get it out of your head but you might not like it…
ready?…
This is the song that never ends,
and it goes on and on, my friends.
Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was,
Therefore they continue singing it forever just because…
This is the song that never ends,
and it goes on and on, my friends.
Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was,
Therefore they continue singing it forever just because…
This is the song that never ends,
and it goes on and on, my friends.
Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was,
Therefore they continue singing it forever just because…
You’re welcome 😉
Alyssa @ Life of bLyss says
I really hope you took the time to type that all out rather than Googling the lyrics. 😉 I PREFER PHIL.
Kim says
This is great and I so agree!
PSA in the pull up in the wash: I did that with a diaper once, cleaned it up, didn’t seem to do any harm. TWO YEARS later my washing machine overflowed and flooded our basement, when my husband took it apart to see what happened he found those little gooey beads stuck in the plastic tube that leads to the sensor that tells the washer when to stop filling!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh man… that’s no good! Luckily (I guess?) our washer really is almost dead anyway so we are already buying time. Hope I don’t have to deal with an overflow though- I’m sure that was such a mess! Thanks for the heads up!
Katie says
Hooray!! My childhood babysitter got me into country music, and many years later we are now good friends who can meet up for wine night occasionally. Its funny how life twists and turns, usually in a beautiful way.
Jenn says
You seriously have the best attitude. I have two girls the same age as yours and a husband that travels a lot. I need to be reminded to not sweat the small stuff sometimes, this was a good reminder 😉
John J. says
Always good to have reminders of the “paradise” moments we have in life. That song and many others help me to realize the “good stuff”.
Tracy says
Awesome!! I loved this post…so…much!! These are the memories that will stick with you! 🙂
Hope tomorrow is a great day but maybe a little different kind of paradise!! Haha
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Sweet post! SO relatable. Dinner may be looking about like that at our house tonight. It has been a DAY over here. Phew.
edye says
That song is so cute, as well as this post! It put a huge smile on my face <3
Lauren @ Oh Hey I Like That! says
I used to sing that song all the time! It definitely helps on days like you’ve had, but to be honest, “Dominos Pizza and candlelight” wouldn’t be so bad 😉
Tanya says
Oh Brittany, bless your heart..those keys! Too funny. We have also been stuck at home while my car is in the shop so I can totally relate. The struggle is real. I am slowly learning as a stay-at-home mom how to just let some things go once in a while. I am task-oriented by nature, so some days it is hard for me to just sit and be and allow the day to unfold. I try to stay so busy all the time. Alas, today I threw my hands in the air, we made a terrible mess of the house and I refrained from cleaning up all day. I really need to learn how to just relax.
Heather@hungryforbalance says
I love how took a day that could have been horrible and put such a positive spin on it! Props to you!
I tend to let the little things get to me far more than I should. Thanks for the reminder that sometimes we all have “Just another day in paradise”.
Christy says
Oh I just love this post! I can’t tell you how many of my days look similar to this. Instead of worrying about all the little things, it’s so great to just let it go. Those spontaneously messy and carefree days are the ones I’ll remember when my two little girls are all grown up and in school all day. These moments are precious and fleeting…enjoy them!
Taylor says
This is such a wonderful post 🙂 I always loved the quote, “While you plan, God laughts.” I wanted to tell you that I implemented your token rule into our household – while we didnt actually use tokens, my daughter is 5 and we just never got around to it – she understands the three per day rule and it’s working like a dream! So thank you thank you thank you 🙂
Lauren Brennan says
Oh man. I have always loved that song, and can remember the days in the early 2000s when I would dream about having a husband and kids just like in the song. And now I do. Boom.
Kelli H (Made in Sonoma) says
Oh yah, LOVE country music here!! Sweet post, Brittany! Happy to hear you found your keys! 🙂