My birthday today! Reflecting on this time last year, I wrote a blog that's worth repeating!
"This weekend is the first time in 4.5 years I get to go out as 'Elaine' and not 'Mommy', two whole days, two whole nights...bliss!
What I can't believe is that its actually taken me 4.5 years and the excuse of celebrating my 40th to get me off my backside and get me out the door. Am I the only one around here with 'mommy guilt'? I don't think so, out of 9 women coming to join me, 7 are also mothers of young children, and this is the first time most of them are stepping out alone too...gosh, whatever will we talk about?!
Its amazing that despite my number one top priority for clients being 'keep hold of yourself' I seem to have missed
my own top tip. Yes, I work from home, I have lots of projects and fill my time admirably with all sorts of busyness, but when do I really just take time for myself, hang out and gossip with girlfriends, go for a spa, read a book (remember that?)....
I've realized
as I come up to this weekend that its WAY too long a time to have been solely a mom. That really I should have done this years ago. So why didn't I? Well, first of all I have a healthy degree of 'mommy guilt', second of all I have an obsession of 'only mommy can do it like the kids want it', and third and lastly I have a big dose of 'but they neeeeeeeed
meeeee'. Oh get over myself! And you know what, I am!
Over the past few weeks as I have been building up to the weekend I've also been taking a fair amount of time out for myself - I started
a Tai Chi class, I started
making dates with girlfriends to go watch movies, and I started
getting out the house more to work and network and generally do non-mom stuff. What I've realized
(somewhat to my chagrin) is that my capable husband and kids actually have more fun without stressed
out mom around, they do a lot more and go charging off to the zoo and the parks and all sorts of great adventures, its increased
the bond between father and daughters significantly, and its increased
my husband's respect for what I do and his confidence as a carer. Its really incred
ible that 'selfishly' taking time out for myself has actually benefited
everyone. I highly recommend it, but please don't take as long as I did to come to this realization!"
Well, this year I'm off to Bali for a week...how about you?!