Have you ever sat down to watch the evening news and flashes a News Report about a woman that died with 100 cats, house full of trash and stacks of newspapers to fill 100 dump trucks? In my single days, I use to live by a lady like this. The entire neighborhood would talk about her but none of us ever went over there to see if she needed anything or if I could help her clean her house. We just talked about how could she let her house go that way.
Well now it is 7 years down the road, I am a mother of three. My children are 4, 2 , and 1 and I am starting to have a little sympathy for people who are on the news. I feel for the old lady that lived by me when I was younger.I wonder now if maybe the headlines should read " Mother who raised 10 Children died today with 100 cats".
Yes, I am fighting not to become her. I have learned that when you become pregnant, your shower gift should no longer be a car seat, toys, or high chairs. Everyone in the family should chip in and buy you two washer machines and dryers. Yes, my laundry room has became into a huge obstacle course of clothes for a family of five, toys that the children drag in there, Detergent powder on the floor at times because the kids are "helping me" with my laundry. You walk into my kitchen. I have dishes in the sink that I promise I am going to wash in the next five minutes but I know the phone will ring or one of the kids will make a bigger mess that I will have to attend to. My dining room table is no longer for dining. No, I cant remember the last meal served on there.I have turned it into my office.
It has my bills piled up and the kids paints, colors and the Windex that I pulled out yesterday to clean the windows but as you can guess. It never happened. So am I walked through the house one more night of putting the kids to sleep and saying to myself," This is what happens. I have promised to clean today. I have promised to get at least 20 things on my to-do list but it has not happened." I think to myself. This is where it starts. This is how this woman ended with the 100 cats, house full of newspapers. I bet you she was a mother. Is my life as a mother driving me insane? I don't really think so but I do believe at times I have gotten lost in my role as a mom.
Yes, I have tried to be Super Mom, Wonder Woman, Energizer Mommy but the truth is I am not any of these. I am just a woman taking care of my family. It seems that when we become wives and mothers, Our identity becomes taking care of our husbands, our children , our house, the bills. Please don't get me wrong, I love every minute of what God has given me. I just find that as a mother, I am taking care of so many things and taking care of my children that I have not taken care of me. What mother isn't guilty of this. As a mom, I am realizing that When I am the Energizer Mom, It is not necessarily healthy for me or my family.
I am learning to realize that my happiness can not come from filling my schedule with kids, work, house duties. I have to take care of myself. I am learning that is is important for my family to have a mom in their life that is energized and happy with herself. I am also learning to admit that even though I love my children some days I need a break from them. I am learning that I need space just as they need their space. Even though we are mothers, We still need to be an individual.
I am finding the best way I am finding myself again is helping others but in a different way as the role I was playing as a mom. I am reminding myself the importance of high self esteem as I teach my children to love themselves. I have changed some of the music that was played in the car to cheerful music. I have put the People Magazine down and am reading inspirational books. I am learning not to feel guilty when I did not get to the work I wanted to today. This week I sat down and wrote a few of my friends letters. No not email, a true letter. I am also exercising again. I may have three little ones right behind me touching their toes but this new life style is making me a better person.
I may not be the Super Mom, Wonder Woman and The Energizer Mommy, but I know I have to continue to stay focused to take care of me Spiritually and Personally to be the mommy that my family needs. I also know that if I do these things, when I die I wont be the Old woman with 100 Cats, newspapers and all alone. I will be the woman that stayed focused, connected as a mother, wife but most importantly as an individual!
Michaele McMillan is a Work at Home Mom. She has a supportive husband and three wonderful children. She owns Auction Village USA (http://www.auctionvillageusa.com) and The Perfect Image (http://www.thperfectimage.us). You can contect her by her websites.
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
1. Constant affirmation without accountability is a sure-fire way to... Read More
For one who takes pride in being involved with different... Read More
There are few enough miracles in life, God knows. I... Read More
Let's look at the lesson we should all pay attention... Read More
I work in a factory, and we have supervisors who... Read More
I imagine when we die we find out how in-tune... Read More
Why 'you are special'?Why and how does it matter?Things you... Read More
Imagine sitting down in a relaxed setting -- a setting... Read More
Buying a VCR may not seem like a noteworthy purchase... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 26,... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of January 20,... Read More
Below are some of the things that, over the years,... Read More
If you have read my articles or heard me speak,... Read More
I had been fighting with the software program that I... Read More
Lisa was born into a loving Christian family and went... Read More
Have you had a challenging day or week? Feel a... Read More
I've been to 64-countries, and yes money comes in handy,... Read More
In today's fast paced society, we've become accustomed to filling... Read More
Life is perfect. If you have read these articles long... Read More
The problem with this is that fantasies usually don't come... Read More
Have you ever had the opportunity to follow-up on a... Read More
"Can't see the forest because of the trees," heard it... Read More
Direct Answers - Column for the week of July 7,... Read More
Do you have a goal? A focus in life? Have... Read More
There are Angels for everything and they are just waiting... Read More
What is social acceptance? Why is it so important? What... Read More
As soon as you have launched a strong desire, the... Read More
Once upon a time, in ancient India, a beggar favored... Read More
A key fault I have, and I can only talk... Read More
We are not born with courage, but neither are we... Read More
Who dares to teach must never cease to learn. -... Read More
Keeping a journal during the coaching process is one of... Read More
1. Once a week, visit somewhere you've never been before.... Read More
The New Year has not started out very well for... Read More
1. How do I love myself?2. How can I feel... Read More
Quotable quotes are nothing more than flowery words... And anyone... Read More
I always had an active imagination when I was young.... Read More
In the streets of Bogotá, a child - named Simon*... Read More
"An unexamined life is not worth living."-- SocratesI have just... Read More
There is a reason I never gave up. A reason... Read More
I hate saying that. It feels so very wrong. It's... Read More
Abundance is a life style, a way of living your... Read More
There are reasons we cross paths with those that we... Read More
Fangs. Killer claws. Hisses, grrrs...and later, yelps. Who is not... Read More
Here's a simple parable with an important moral.Each mirror, you... Read More
What we believe plays a very big role in outcomes... Read More
We set out walking along a route where one foot... Read More
Your own level of frequency raises or lowers the overall... Read More
Changing our physiology is one of the best ways to... Read More
In Berlin a restaurant opens for anorexics and in Buffalo... Read More
The volatile essences of aromatic plants contain potent, complex, natural... Read More
The story of the three bricklayers has been around for... Read More
I have no idea how it started or who launched... Read More
When it comes to meeting and conquering the negativity in... Read More
Perhaps I should ask my doctor if there is a... Read More
Life teaches us in peculiar ways. It knocks us down.... Read More
Recently a romantic relationship came to an end and I... Read More
I have always thought that grandparents were the icons of... Read More
The eyes are the portals of the inner self; the... Read More
The true test in life does not occur when all... Read More
Chances are you have seen some type of disturbance in... Read More
Some people dismiss dreams as nonsense, thought patterns running amuck... Read More
Plato once said, "It is easy to forgive a small... Read More
"?beauty on your earth is a shadow of the beauty... Read More
"All that you desire or require is already on your... Read More
I remember when I was just a little guy probably... Read More
Inspirational |