Mothers are portrayed as being almost saintlike. Self-sacrificing. Nurturing. Loving. Always Forgiving.
Mothers are also women. Women have needs. When a woman chooses to become a mother she accepts that she will sacrifice in order to be the best mom that she can be. The problem is that many women lose who they are when they take on the role of mother.They forget they need time for themselves.
As every parent knows, a newborn's needs are different from a teenager's. As your child grows, your role changes. A good parent knows that they can hold their child's hand for only a short time. You need to learn how to let go, not just for your child but for yourself. And when you do let go, who are you?
This is just one of the many challenges of motherhood.
Most women today also work outside the home in addition to raising their children. It is quite a juggling act to deal with the demands of a job and then do your best as a mother. In addition to that you may also have a personal relationship, either as a married woman or as a single mom. Life can be crazy and for some reason, women are still expected to be able to do it all.
As Mother's Day approaches, I reflect upon the women who taught me as I was growing up and whose influence I cannot deny. They were self-sacrificing and even once their children were grown, they still were very much a part of their lives. They still nurtured and took care of their children, although their role had changed.
My one grandmother had her interests and I always saw her as being independent. My other grandmother did it all and never seemed to stop. She even worked right up to a few months before she died.(she was 80) She did say that she regretted not retiring sooner but honestly, maybe her job was her "break" or her "me time". She was the ultimate, self-sacrificing, always there for everyone mother. This was how she was probably raised to be. I wonder if she had unfulfilled dreams? Did she even have dreams of anything that didn't involve being a mother?
I really don't know. I personally never asked her because although my grandmother got to see me become a mother, we never talked about being women. I really believe that most of her generation just fell into the role of wife and mother and didn't question it. They didn't consider any other option.
I do believe that being a mother is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I have been a mother my entire adult life. It wasn't my goal to grow up to be a mom, but it was a part of the "plan".
The challenge of being a mother today is to learn how to balance motherhood with being a woman. You will be a much better mother if you take the time to nurture who you are so that you can better nurture your child. It isn't bad to be selfish.
So on this Mother's Day, sleep in. Let your kids mess up the kitchen making your breakfast. Enjoy the pampering and make a promise to yourself to take time for you!
Mothers are also women. Women have needs. When a woman chooses to become a mother she accepts that she will sacrifice in order to be the best mom that she can be. The problem is that many women lose who they are when they take on the role of mother.They forget they need time for themselves.
As every parent knows, a newborn's needs are different from a teenager's. As your child grows, your role changes. A good parent knows that they can hold their child's hand for only a short time. You need to learn how to let go, not just for your child but for yourself. And when you do let go, who are you?
This is just one of the many challenges of motherhood.
Most women today also work outside the home in addition to raising their children. It is quite a juggling act to deal with the demands of a job and then do your best as a mother. In addition to that you may also have a personal relationship, either as a married woman or as a single mom. Life can be crazy and for some reason, women are still expected to be able to do it all.
As Mother's Day approaches, I reflect upon the women who taught me as I was growing up and whose influence I cannot deny. They were self-sacrificing and even once their children were grown, they still were very much a part of their lives. They still nurtured and took care of their children, although their role had changed.
My one grandmother had her interests and I always saw her as being independent. My other grandmother did it all and never seemed to stop. She even worked right up to a few months before she died.(she was 80) She did say that she regretted not retiring sooner but honestly, maybe her job was her "break" or her "me time". She was the ultimate, self-sacrificing, always there for everyone mother. This was how she was probably raised to be. I wonder if she had unfulfilled dreams? Did she even have dreams of anything that didn't involve being a mother?
I really don't know. I personally never asked her because although my grandmother got to see me become a mother, we never talked about being women. I really believe that most of her generation just fell into the role of wife and mother and didn't question it. They didn't consider any other option.
I do believe that being a mother is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I have been a mother my entire adult life. It wasn't my goal to grow up to be a mom, but it was a part of the "plan".
The challenge of being a mother today is to learn how to balance motherhood with being a woman. You will be a much better mother if you take the time to nurture who you are so that you can better nurture your child. It isn't bad to be selfish.
So on this Mother's Day, sleep in. Let your kids mess up the kitchen making your breakfast. Enjoy the pampering and make a promise to yourself to take time for you!
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