Stronger

I ran into an old friend the other day who said in a “I can’t believe it” kind of tone, “You stay home with them (the kiddies) all day?” I took a deep breath and replied, “It’s training in progress!”

I’ve been thinking lately how much motherhood has changed me and how far I’ve come in the last 5+ years. I’m not tooting my own horn, believe me, cause I know of other moms who stay at home and don’t have any family nearby to help them and/or are  raising a special needs child, so I know I have it fairly easy in comparison! But I also realize how much I’ve been stretched, broken down and molded physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually – it’s like I’ve been training for a marathon and have finally started to gain some momentum in my stride.

I recently read the book, “The Hungry Little Caterpillar” to my kids and began to see myself as that caterpillar, especially the part where it eats and eats and becomes a big, fat caterpillar (yes, I considered pregnancy a time of indulgence!).  And after it is done eating, it makes a cocoon and holes up in it for about two weeks to do some changing.  I, on the other hand, kind of stayed in a “cocoon” for a good five years cause there was a LOT of changing I had to do in becoming a mom.

It would have been nice if I could have magically transformed into a “mom” as soon as I laid eyes on my baby, but I’ve discovered this title kind of needs to be earned (through lots of manual labor and shifts in perspective!).  I never realized how much sacrificing I would need to do as a mom and how everything becomes about the kids and you get placed on the back burner – waaay in the back!  I never knew how all consuming it would be to be a mom, how it zaps your energy, finances, memory, and surprisingly, your identity, too.

Before I had kids, I had once read on a friend’s (who is a mom) facebook profile that she was trying to salvage her identity.  I now understand what she meant.  Over these past few years it feels like I’ve morphed into someone else.  The upside to my metamorphosis is that this introverted, square, almost only child is now a little less shy, a bit more conscientious of other people’s needs and doesn’t need to have everything go my way every time (though that would be nice!).  I can do some things now that I couldn’t do before I had kids like cut hair, strike up conversations with strangers and take really fast showers (like under 4 minutes).  🙂  The downside to this transformation though is a lack of balance at times, meaning that there’s a tendency for my identity to be all “mom” and for the other parts of me to get pushed out of the equation.  For a while I lost sight of the things I used to enjoy, like listening to music that isn’t about buses or monkeys or spiders and reading books that don’t have pictures on every page.  It even got to the point where my mom could tell I hadn’t brushed my hair (I was happy enough to have just washed it, who cared about brushing it!).  🙂

Well, now that the kids are a little older and more independent, I am glad to say I have a little more time to brush my hair every day and even read a magazine sometimes.  I’m also trying to put some of my needs back on the front burner, like exercising regularly again so I can be healthier and set a good example for the kids.  And I’m starting to contemplate what I can do with my time next year when both kids will be in school!

Supposedly, they say that when a butterfly breaks itself out of the cocoon, it’s stronger for having done so.  So here I am finally emerging from my cocoon and hoping that the person I am now as a mom is an improved version of who I was before having kids.  Cause what doesn’t kill you, definitely makes you stronger!  😛

Image courtesy of wiangya/freedigitalphotos.net

Check out Kelly Clarkson’s song, “Stronger“.

In what ways have your life experiences made you stronger?

Memilih RTP Slot Tertinggi untuk Hasil Bermain yang Lebih Optimal

RTP Slot Tertinggi memastikan bahwa setiap taruhan yang dipasang pemain memiliki peluang terbaik untuk menghasilkan kemenangan. RTP Slot Gacor memberikan kepuasan lebih dengan pengembalian yang stabil di setiap putaran. Dalam RTP Slot Online, pemain memiliki akses ke berbagai pilihan slot dengan tingkat RTP yang tinggi. Slot ini memberikan pengalaman bermain yang tak terlupakan dan sangat bermanfaat bagi para penggemar slot.

Game Slot Deposit 5000 menawarkan peluang kemenangan besar dengan modal kecil. Banyak platform kini menghadirkan fitur ini untuk memenuhi kebutuhan pemain yang mengutamakan efisiensi dalam bermain. Temukan jackpot harian dengan taruhan yang tetap bersahabat.

Mahjong adalah permainan yang berasal dari Tiongkok dan telah dikenal luas di seluruh dunia. Permainan ini mengandalkan kecerdikan dan strategi, serta keberuntungan dalam memilih ubin. Dalam perkembangan dunia game, konsep Mahjong telah diadaptasi menjadi berbagai bentuk permainan digital yang menawarkan sensasi baru. Permainan Mahjong dalam bentuk slot atau video game modern semakin populer karena keunikannya yang menggabungkan keseruan dengan tantangan.

Keunggulan Bermain Secara Digital Dengan Fitur Menarik dan Kemudahan Akses

Saat ini banyak pemain lebih memilih bermain melalui platform digital karena kemudahan aksesnya. Dalam hal ini, Slot Gacor Online menjadi pilihan favorit karena menawarkan permainan yang seru dengan peluang menang yang tinggi. Fitur-fitur menarik seperti free spin, jackpot progresif, serta bonus harian semakin meningkatkan daya tariknya. Selain itu, keunggulan dari sistem keamanan yang canggih juga memberikan rasa nyaman bagi para pemain yang ingin bermain tanpa khawatir.

Keuntungan Maksimal yang Ditawarkan oleh Bo Togel Hadiah 2d 200rb untuk Pemain Togel Online

Jika Anda mencari hadiah besar dengan peluang menang tinggi, maka Bo Togel Hadiah 2d 200rb adalah pilihan terbaik. Dengan nominal hadiah ini, setiap taruhan Anda akan terasa lebih berharga dan memacu semangat bermain.

Related Links

Partner Links