Some mornings as a mother are hard. Days like today. Lila Mae initially woke up at 5:30 after otherwise sleeping through the night for the first time in literally a year. Wonderful right? Yes! But she woke up whining and continued to whine for 2 hours. And then comes Lockland who repeatedly asked me to play on the computer while I repeatedly told him we needed to have breakfast first. It was just one of those mornings that ate at my nerves. Sometimes I am embarrassed that I feel annoyed as a mother. After all so many women would love to be in my shoes and have prayed to be in my shoes with two beautiful, wonderful, healthy children. But then I am reminded that it's okay to feel defeated by motherhood every now and then. IT IS A HARD JOB.
Whether you are a stay at home mother or a working mother I am sure some of you often feel the same way I do--like you are wearing a chocker. It's a beautiful, valuable chocker that you love dearly and you would never want to lose or replace. It means more to you than words can describe but sometimes you need to take it off and breathe. Sometimes the chocker is too tight, literally chocking the life out of you. The chocker is so beautiful you don't want to take it off. You don't want to take it for granted. But you need to. Sometimes your chocker gets so tight you feel like it's sucking the life out of you and you forget who you are. The chocker is so tight it's hard to see it's beauty.
You are now thinking "Whoa wait did this crazy woman just compare motherhood to a chocker?" Yes, yes I did. Partially because the nineties kid in me is coming out but also because I think it's a beautiful analogy. Sometimes as mother I feel like by admitting I need some me time, some alone time that I am being ungrateful for my beautiful gift--for motherhood. But momma's, that alone time is so important in fulling loving the beautiful gift of motherhood. It's okay to take off our chocker every now and then and just be a woman. Enjoy a quiet morning in a coffee shop reading a book, painting, sewing, crafting--whatever it is you love. It's important to remember yourself. If we as women aren't doing the little things that make us feel like us, our children will suffer and our days of feeling like our chocker is on too tight will be more. I promise. Our days go much smoother when I remember me before I start taking care of my little blessings.
This upcoming week, momma's, I challenge you to try something. If possible, get up before you little ones usually do. Even if it's only 15 minutes to pee and make some coffee before your momma day begins. Last week I started waking up about 30-60 minutes before Lockland and Lila Mae and each morning I start off in a much better mood. I have time to go to the bathroom with no audience, read my devotional, pray, and usually even write in my personal journal. When my babies rise I feel ready to begin the day because I had a little bit of me time. Also I challenge you to read The Fringe Hours by Jessica N. Turner (which you can purchase here). It is fantastic. If getting up early isn't for you, try spending time on you during your lunch break, while your little ones nap, or even in the car rider line. Let's spend less days with our chockers on too tight and embracing and enjoying their beauty.
