Being a mom is amazing and crazy at the same time. I am a mother of four relatively young children — one boy and three girls. We are often asked…”How I do it all?” Well…I have to admit it can be a little hectic sometimes, but being a mom teaches you a lot more about yourself than you might know.
- I Need Me Time. One of the things I learned about myself is that I am an introvert. I am always full of energy and I am incredibly passionate about what I do. Still, at the end of the day, I still need some “me time”. As moms, we can feel guilty for wanting to take time out for ourselves; but let me tell you, it’s important to do so. It’s not a crime to need that “me time” to recharge and recover after you have spent your day giving your energy to everyone who relies on you — your kids, your husband, your pets, your colleagues at work, even your friends. Most moms have a limit of “giving” for the day and once they hit that limit, they’re not a nice mom anymore. (LOL!) It’s why I routinely try to put my kids to bed before 8:00 pm. After 8:00 pm, I feel like they are eating into my time and I become a different person to deal with because all my energy has been expended. On Mother’s Day, while some moms were having brunch with their kids, I spent the whole day shopping (without my kids!). I didn’t buy anything but it felt great to be out alone and enjoying some quiet time.
- I Love to Work. Another thing I learned is that I am a working mom…not a stay at home mom. When the pandemic hit, I thought I could stay at home and work and teach my kids. I almost lost it mentally. Seriously. I thought I was drowning. I gained such a deep respect for teachers. I gained even more respect for moms that homeschool their children and those moms that stay at home with their children. I realized I didn’t have the patience and grace to stay at home with the kids. I for sure know that it’s not my calling. I realized I thrive off of helping people solve problems. If you are a stay at home mom, you are doing a great job and I applaud you for doing that because it is not easy!
- There is Life After Work. The last thing I learned is that work is not everything. The value of family is so critical and important to me. Even though I am constantly busy with work, I still make time for my family. So I have learned that it’s all about balance. For example, if you want to check out your kid in her karate class, then do it. With today’s technology, you can still manage your work on your phone or laptop using WIFI. Or maybe you log back onto your computer once you get home to put in the extra work that you missed out on while at the karate class. Those are the tradeoffs that you have to make. Whether you work late night shifts or a regular daytime job, it doesn’t matter. Being a working mom doesn’t mean you stop being a mom, you just have to control your switch button.
Being a mom is a beautiful thing even when it gets crazy at times, but what I love the most about being a mom is our capacity to love… whether you have one child or six or seven children, there is no limit to your ability to open your heart and love all of your kids (pets included!). Your happiest moment is their happiest moment. You feel their highs and their lows…and it’s an incredible ride!
What have you learned about yourself after becoming a parent? Let me know in the comments below!
Xoxo
Renee @lifebyrenee
