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Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my current project, my next project, moving, decorating, whatever I have planned for that day that I forget to just be a Mom. That sounds pathetic. I know it does. I wear so many different hats (as we all do) and it’s hard for me take one off and put another one on. Today while I was wearing my “Boss Lady” hat, Blake crawled over to me and put her arms up, whined a little and it hit me.
I NEED TO SLOW DOWN.
I live life in constant fast forward. Not on purpose, it just happens though. I am running from one meeting to the next, hoping Blake takes a good nap that day or wishing dinner was done quicker. I mean…I have an eight month old, a freaking eight month old. When the heck did that happen? Oh, let me tell you….5 days ago. And as she put her little arms up and reached for me, my heart melted and that reminder of slow the heck down kicked in. My “Boss Lady” hat instantly hit the floor. I put my “Mom” hat on, picked her up and twirled around the room with her. Yes, my days are busy, I work a lot, we’re moving, you name it–things are chaotic (aren’t they always?), but I’m NEVER too busy to just be a Mom. However the cold fact is…it’s freaking hard and I need to remind myself of this daily. I forget, a lot, then I start to feel overwhelmed, I put my priorities in the wrong place and I have to bring myself back down to earth. It’s a pattern I repeat everyday so I have come up with a mini solution. It’s not perfect, but it works for me. I’ve made a list, a list that I read every single night to remind me of what IS a priority.
AND no, it doesn’t make me a bad Mom for having to read this list, I would say it makes me a good Mom. We’re all good Moms and we’re all doing the best we know how to. It’s one big learning lesson as we go. Now the list, let’s talk about this magical “list” that I read every night…you may love it, you may hate it. Time will tell I guess, but as y’all know I put everything out there. I try to be real and I try to share real experiences that you can relate to.
THE LIST
1. Remember, you’re a Mom and that little girl of yours and her Daddy are the most important thing in your life.
2. Today may have been chaotic, it may have been calm either way–don’t forget to snuggle your baby tonight.
3. You’re doing your absolute best and you’re killin’ it.
4. Words are just words, if someone said something mean to you today go ahead and just push that out of your mind right now.
5. Give your husband a kiss and thank him for allowing you to follow your dreams and putting up with your craziness 😉
I’ve found over the last month or so that by reading this list every night I feel a little more peace before I go to bed. I feel a little calmer and the overwhelm and stress melts away (even it’s just for 5 minutes). Yes, I wore 15 “hats” that day, but I did my best and Blake loves me just the same. She knows who I am and one day she will be proud of me. Tears may have been shed that day, in fact they most likely were, but tears lead to snuggles and snuggles are where it’s at.
My name is Jess and I wear the following “hats”- Mom, Boss Lady, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Individual, Bill Payer, Planner and you get the point…the list goes on and on. The main point is, I’m not going to let any of these get in my way of my most important job: Mom.
Sarah @ SUGARMAPLEnotes says
I go through the same exact agony of needing to remind myself to slow down and just be with my daughter. I’m always multitasking. They grow up so fast. We all need to just slow down a bit. Where are we running to anyway!?