Being a mother means that you need to provide yourself with the emotional, physical and time management skills that meets you family needs. ScottCounseling gets numerous counseling questions each week that centers on this statement:
Making this statement does not mean that you need therapy. It most likely means that your parenting efforts need rethinking. This thinking involves asking yourself these questions:
“Is my life balanced?”
“Do I take time for me to be me?”
Author and life coach, Tara Paterson adds her perspective on this topic entitled:
“Empowering Mom through Balance”
“We have enough people who tell it like it is- now we could use a few who can tell
it like it can be.” –Robert Orben
As a woman and a mom, I have traveled a long road of self-discovery. I have
listened to theories ranging from- you are a mom that is the only thing you should
be concerned about; to the most important thing for you to do is take care of your
husband and his needs so he can continue to ?……. In theory, this may have
worked for some women a century ago, but today things have advanced to a
place where at the click of a button, we have access to the whole world and the
possibilities that exist for anyone who’s interested.
“Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it.
Dwell in possibility.”- Oprah Winfrey
What I have found to be true, whether of myself or the many women I have
spoken to over the years, is the concept that a role that is unknown territory when
we begin may not be our only lot in life. I love and adore my children every bit as
much as any mother does, but I knew early on that for me there was more to life
than just being someone’s- mom, daughter, wife, sister and friend. I realized I
want to be me.
What does that mean?
- It means we have forgotten what our life was like for 20+ years, before we
became a parent. We spent a decade or more developing the personality that
would guide us through life. - We may have spent 4 or more years in college to
help us decide what to do with our future. We met lots of people who shaped our
thoughts; we traveled to places that opened our minds to the vastness of this
world; we discovered the internet which connected us to like minds or all kinds;
but through all of these things, we were molding ourselves to become the person
we are today. - Ambition’s a good thing if you’ve got it headed in the right direction.” –John Wise
I am not suggesting for a second that we become selfish or forget that becoming
a mom was a choice. If anything, I hope that this empowers you to think about
what your inner most desire is and how you can achieve it for yourself. It is
through balance and encouragement that each of us can live a fulfilling life and
still keep our priorities in check. - If we spend a little time each day taking care of
the one who takes care of all, we will experience the possibilities that exist for
each of us.
“He who neglects to drink of the spring of experience is likely to die of thirst in the
desert of ignorance.” –Ling Po
© Tara Paterson 2008, All Rights Reserved
Visit www.ParentingIntuitives.com or email tara@justformom.com
