We hear it all the time... Kids are too busy with lessons clubs etc. Let them be kids, time to prioritize, take less lessons. The experts say.
But what about mothers?
A few years ago I was like that myself. Swimming in the ocean surrounded by sharks trying to keep everything in my life afloat. Trying to be a mother, wife, writer breastfeeding counselor/advocate, scrapbooking, artsy tallented, church going/calling serving woman. (I'm sure I left some of it out) Then I hit a wall of depression and dysfunction. I couldn't keep it up and I began to drown in everythiung that I represented and resembled. I dropped everything for a while (yes even being a mother) and recouped.
At that point I decided that I had it all wrong. I had way too many things in my life and keeping all of them afloat was impossible. I had to realize that I had to be true to myself and no one else, and that when I did it became easier to do what was truely required of me.
I am a Wife and Mother. Those are my most important callings. They are the ones that I will be forever asked to fulfill. But I can't be just a mother and a wife. To do that denies my creative muse any stretching. I have found that when I feed my muse I am happier, and therefore a better wife and mother. So I am a Writer and an Artist also, regardless of what the art is. I am a breastfeeding advocate also but my Heavenly Father has moved me to a place where I am not needed in this calling for the moment and for this moment I am content to let this part of me rest. I have two church callings and they are perfect for me one is a once a month and one is once a quarter. I can deal with that.
I had to learn at a tremendous price to myself my marriage and my family that trying to keep everything afloat was impossible. I steped back and reassessed and pared down. This is a good thing.
I am Michelle, I am a Wife and Mother, I am a Writer, I persue artistic tendencys when I have time or need a creative distraction. I am other things, but they will not detract from those things I deem most important.
5 comments:
Good for you Michelle. It's so easy to take on little things that come so gradually until we find ourselves overwhelmed. The best word I ever learned was "NO". Of course I still struggle with being overwhelmed and trying not to succumb to guilt trips when I do say no. Thanks for posting today. You remind me that the balance can be found and how important that is.
I'm afraid this is a dilemma all women face today, Michelle. I think what you've written and the realizations you've come to will be helpful to all of us.
I can relate, Michelle. I need to watch that I balance my time for writing with my family. When it is imbalanced, my husband gets really crotchety about it. I used to resent this, but then I realized, how would I feel if I were put in this situation? Thanks for the post.
I'm glad some of you are getting this stuff down. Facing what I am right now, I just feel simply overwhelmed and have NO CLUE what to do to find balance. I hope it will happen, but right now . . . SHEESH!
I think it's way too easy to get involved in too many things that used to rejuvenate and now bog down. You have some great realizations. I too feel that I still need an outlet outside of being a wife and mother, but only when I feel I need it, and not so it is forced.
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