The Incredible Shrinking Mother

I have officially been a mother now for nearly 4 and a half years. I love my family more than anything in the world. I will even go as far to say they are my world.

But they do not represent all parts of my world.

Let me explain..

Once I became a mother my life revolved around my newborn. I lived, ate, slept (well...not really), and breathed motherhood. Not much else seemed to matter. Quite honestly, I couldn't even tell you what day it was...but I could easily tell you the last time my little one had a bowel movement and exactly how long they slept that day.

And I truly believe that is how it should be at that time.

But it shouldn't be like that forever.

In my years as a Mommy I've seen an epidemic I like to refer to as the Incredible Shrinking Mommy. As women we have goals, dreams, and aspirations. We have hobbies and interests.

And then we get married and start a family.

Priorities are shifted - as they should be - and YOU are no longer a top priority because you have a husband and children you are caring for. I am honored to do that. I love to do that.

But I don't want to lose me in the process.

Once I was a full-time Mommy I realized that I lost a little bit reality. It was harder for me to carry on a conversation that didn't involve something to do with my children. I was not up on current events. I had let any hobbies or dreams I had to be put on hold. My life was my child.

And then it hit me that I wasn't sure I liked that.

As much as I would love it if my little ones would stay tiny - they won't.

Children grow. Life marches on.

I'm so lucky that I have this awesome guy that I am eventually going to grow old with...and I want to still be a vibrant woman full of loves, passions, and interests at that point! I don't want my children to "fly from the nest" and be in a position where I don't know what to do with myself. I basically realized I didn't want to hit 60 and have my only fulfillment in life be that I raised awesome kids. Trust me...that is TOP NOTCH on my priority list, but it's important that I also achieve other goals and dreams. I want to live my life with passion and grow each and every day.

And the mom in me wants my kids to see that and I want them to know that it is important.

And so I did.

I have always loved photography and have taken the steps needed to further my skills. I love blogging and have declared it MINE...I write what I want! I have always wanted to write a children's book and have started jotting down ideas as they form in my head. I have also found that my soul finds painting soothing and calming.

To put it simply, I took simple steps to put ME back on the map.


I see this epidemic happen all the time. And I know that some of you will be reading this and may think that I'm being selfish...but I trust myself and my instincts.

And more than that...I think I've become a better person because of it.

My prayer is that I have a long and beautiful life ahead of me. I have a lot to learn. I have a lot to share. I have a lot of growin' to do.

I hope that when my handsome husband and I are old and gray he is still married to a woman that is passionate about life.

And I hope that my children see me learning, growing, and following my dreams.

And I hope that they see it's important.

And I hope that when they are older they each have a family that they love and care for.

And I hope that family always comes first...but that they also learn to dream with their eyes wide open.