Before I became a mom I had absolutely no idea what motherhood entailed.
I had this romantic notion that it was all about kids playing (amicably!) with balloons on the lawn. I thought babies just slept and toddlers teetered about gabbling nonsensical words endearingly.
The reality, of course, is nothing like this.
There’re the weeks, months, years of sleep deprivation. The tantrums. The puke, the poo, the pain. The tantrums. The sibling rivalry, the naughty corner, the food fights. The tantrums. The stand-offs, the hunger strikes, the meltdowns. The tantrums.
I guess you could say motherhood – in its raw, hardcore reality – took me somewhat by surprise.
Along with issues of trying to maintain some level of sanity amidst the chaos of nappy changes, midnight feeds, reflux, sleep training… I also found myself feeling insecure about the way I did things. Everyone seemed so intent on offering their two cents worth. I think for a little while (certainly with my first child) I may have lost sight of my individuality, my sparkle, myself.
Slowly but surely I’ve started to reconcile my role as mother with the happy-go-lucky (younger!) version of my former self.
I’m reading a great book at the moment about coming to grips with this new identity as mom. Here’s an excerpt:
“As it turned out, my journey had very little to do with parenting. Becoming a mother was the catalyst to starting a profound journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth. I have learnt more about myself through my children and the pressures of being a mother than through any other life experience. In my search for sanity I rediscovered the truth of who I really was, which allowed me to find happiness and contentment in my life as a mother, wife and woman.”
The book is called Motherhood and Me. It’s written by Lindy Bruce, a mother of three, who based the book on her own experiences and feedback from other moms attending her workshops. For more info on Lindy and her book check out her blog.
Lindy’s also currently involved in another parenting project, Cool To Be Me, which builds self esteem, self worth and self awareness in children. CTBM is a very cool site and definately worth checking out.
Oh yay, a giveaway!
To celebrate autumn and the anticipation of lazy Sunday morning lie-ins (kids permitting of course!) Sprogs n’ Dogs is giving away two copies of Lindy Bruce’s insightful book Motherhood and Me.
To stand of a chance of winning simply email your name and address to venessa@sprogsndogs.com before 26th of April 2010.
Good luck!
2 Comments
Thank you Thank you Thank you……………my book Motherhood and Me arrived safely in the post this arvie…..I have faith once again in our South African post…..
I plan (if things ever go to plan??) to have a nice warm bubble bath this evening once my three year old love of my life has finally gone to sleep. She has the first of one of many (I’m sure) winter colds so I have been dealing with a toddler who says she can’t breath and therefore insists in jumping into bed with us at midnight. My husband for some reason or other never hears her complaining about the lack of air going in her nose or the need to have it blown or the other need for water etc…..Any way back to my plan. After the bath, I’ll disappear into bed (hot waterbottle included) and start on my lovely new book…..Kan nie wag nie…(not sure why but felt the need to throw in some Afrikaans then…)
Thanks again Van and a big thanks too Lindy Bruce
Cool Charmain. Hope everything goes according to plan!