The new year doesn’t always begin on January 1st. At least not for me. New beginnings emerge at all different times during the year. My newest beginning was the transition from new motherhood into working mom. Any title including the word mom deserves a trophy but I’d say this one trumps all. Whether you’re a full time mom, working from home mom or part time working mom like me, each role has its challenges and rewards.
Full time working moms have the biggest challenge of being away from their children, while also having a huge reward of alone time. Or even better, adult time. Work from home moms deal with having to be present with work while sitting amongst their laundry, to do lists & little cries of their children from downstairs. But when in time of distress they’re able to walk only a few steps to rescue those little cries & nurture those tears. Part time working moms struggle between both working too much & not enough, trying to find the balance. Having the best of both worlds, working only a couple days a week to feel like an adult, contributing financially, while also spending a majority of the week with their children.
Every role has its challenges & rewards. The key is to not let one feel better than the other. While I’m at my part time job there’s a mom wishing she could get away from her full time job to be home just one extra day with her children. The stay at home mom dreaming about working to have some adult time & feel human again.
The truth is we all want what we don’t have & this mindset will get you no where. Instead of looking at things so broadly focus on the day. If you’re a stay at home mom wake up every morning thankful you can stay home & raise your children. If you work part time, be grateful for the flexibility you’ve created to be able to do both. If you are employed full time be proud everyday that you can be an example of a mom that can do it all.
Be mindful of the choices you make everyday. Are you going to be a victim of the life you created? Or are you going to simple remain grateful & thankful. Either way you have to show up to work, whether that’s at home or in an office.
While on the topic of working moms, I decided to venture into a new direction for the first time in years by starting this blog. Another new beginning, although this one being closer to the actual new year. It feels uncomfortable & different but I’m happy to be exploring new forms of creativity & streams of income. Being home more has inspired me to think outside the box of how I usually spend my time & express my creativity. Once upon a time I used to love creative writing in school & even won an award or two for it, so I’m sure in time it will all come flowing back to me. I’m hoping my blog posts, reviews, recipes & knowledge will help another mom out there. A community of like-minded mothers exceeding their potential is my goal.
There’s a few ways that help me remain in the present moment & stay out of the victim mindset. I stopped comparing myself to others, created a flexible routine that I loved & took a course all about consciousness.
Stopping comparing yourself to others is a lot harder than we’re willing to admit sometimes. In a world of consumerism & social media we are bombarded by women & mom’s that we deem “better than us.” The easiest way to stop comparing is to simply unfollow accounts that give you that negative feelings. Only follow accounts that leave you feeling inspired & hopeful. It’s a lot harder than we’d think to unfollow an account but these apps are programed to keep you addicted & scrolling. Set aside 30 minutes to sit down & go through each account, if it gives you any feeling of negativity or doubt simply unfollow.
Creating a flexible routine requires exactly that, flexibility. We have children, we know everything we set in our minds to get done for the day doesn’t always happen, and that’s okay. Choose to be okay with it, it will save you a lot time of feeling sorry for yourself. Having a routine will keep you busy. The saying “idle time is the devil’s playground” is a very true statement. If you don’t create a routine, you will have more time to doom scroll those accounts that make you feel inferior & both things will get you no where with nothing done. Your children thrive on routine. For example, create a list of things around the house to get accomplished, activities or crafts to do with your kids, time outdoors, meals you’d like to make & time to relax for both mom & children. Make space for things to not completely go as planned but have a general list of things to do throughout the day & do them.
Staying mindful & keeping a clear head is not only rewarding for you but especially your children. Consciousness & awareness is not just for the witches & spiritual leaders in the world, its for everyone. Especially for mothers this is such an important tool to have. Not only will you & your family thrive but teaching your children these tools will be such a game changer for their lives. There are many courses, books & podcasts out there about consciousness, I encourage you to find one that you’re drawn to & do it. I took the Self Mastery Tools course by Conscious Leadership Group lead by Emily Saldaya. If you’re interested in this one specifically, email me & I will connect you to the course.
There are many ways to be a mindful mother, these are just a few that have helped me & keep me on track. New beginnings can bring in new challenges but don’t let that keep you from doing the best you can for you & your family. Trust that you will find the balance in it all.
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