New Year, don't forget about YOU!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone

Hope your start to 2013 has been great to you :) As a woman, we wear so many hats. Its in our nature to want to please everyone all of the time. We want to please our kids, our husbands, in-laws, friends, co-workers and many times...we forget to please ourselves and put ourselves FIRST. How many of you are mothers? I am a mother to two; a boy (almost 8 in April) and a girl (almost 5 in June). They arethe light to my world. They truly are my everything. I became a young mother at a early age, so for almost 8 years out of my life (I will be 28 in March) being a mother and girlfriend/wife is the only thing that I have known for years. When I look back, sometimes I get jealous of friends of mine that waited to have kids and areliving thier life first before they add kids into the mix of things. We all know that once you add kids into any mix, things def change! I wont sugar-coat anything. Those are facts. Now to say that my life isn't as fun as the next girl without kids would be unfair to say. I have acepted my life for what it is at the time, being a mother full-time (no days off) as well as being a full-time girlfriend with no days off, lol. I would not change any of this. This is MY life. But I have learned through this all is that for many years I was neglecting myself. Once you have kids, this is not the end of YOU. Having kids is adding to you not the end-all. Once we get that, life will become that much more fullfilled. Let's not forget about us ladies. Don't give up on hopes and dreams just because your a full-time mother or wife and don't let anyone's judgements about you affect you. Remember, this is your life. Not theirs. If you choose to be a full-time mom or wife, then hey...more power to you! Not everyone is the same. I am thankful everyday that I am with a man where I don't need to work right now. Not saying it isn't a struggle, but I am blessed. Don't look to others to compair yourself too. When you do that, you are loosing. Never compair yourself to anyone else, because at the end of the day...we don't know why women are stay-at-home mothers, we don't know why a woman would rather work, work, work and not be there for her child. We all have different circumstances that we are dealt. Here are a few things that you can do to get back to appreciating and putting YOU first! - Join a gym. Work out 3 times a week if you can. This is YOU time. No kids allowed. Have the hubby/boyfriend/best friend watch the kids for a hour or two while you work out. - If you can't get to a gym, pick a quiet place in your house or apartment and choose a time that fits with your schedule where you can work out. Usually for me, its the morning when my kids are both asleep, or when they are in school. - Find other moms in your neighborhood and set up weekly meetups or monthly meetups. It can be a meetup to a coffee shop or hair salon, a shopping trip to H&M. Its always good to get out for a bit andhave girl talk with someone who isn't the age of 4 or 8. :) - Take a bubble bath. Yes, its so relaxing. Bring in some of your favorite music, light some calming and relaxing candels to set the mood. - Make an appointment at least once a month ot get something done for yourself (hair, nails, waxing, make up) Anything that will make you feel better and put yourself first. - Schedule monthy date-nights for you and your hubby! - Schedule weekly-bi-weekly night out with your closest girlfriends! Dinner and drinks, movies, or wine night at one of your friends house. Just to get out. - Make time to gather yout thoughts. Keep a diary, a journal. Have a quiet place, just you and your thoughts. Write. Very therapeutic. I hope this helps someone out there reading. Just never loose who you are as a person because you put everyone and everything ahead of yourself. That's not fair to you. Like I said, as a woman...we juggle so many different hats on any given day, and in the midst of it all, we end of loosing ourselves. Always remember, YOU are so worth it. being the BEST you is a priceless present that you can give anyone that you love in your life :)