O'd to The Prettiest Cousin I have
PC, this entry is dedicated to you and only you. I wish we lived closer so I could do some things to lighten your load and your funk right now. Don't MAKE ME come there! :) But, if you DO, you don't need to cook or clean for me. I can do all that, and, we might even manage a good belly-aching laugh or two.Mother's carry a very heavy burden. She is very influential in the lives of her children. Her impression on them will last a lifetime! Somedays, the days are so long and hectic we wonder if we can fulfill this Godly role our Heavenly Father has bestowed upon us! Somedays, the joy of motherhood is so great, the tears well up all day! Abraham Lincoln wrote "No one is poor who had a Godly mother." The shoes are big, but when we look to our Heavenly Father he will provide the answers, comfort, guidance and strength to raise our children to be the best they can be.
Put your support team in place.
Whether you turn to family members, friends, or coworkers for support is unimportant. What matters is there's someone waiting to cheer you on when you find yourself having a certifiably horrible day. And don't be afraid to wave the white flag and ask family members (INCLUDING YOUR HUSBAND) to pitch in with household tasks at home: there's no reason on EARTH you should be simultaneously making dinner and folding laundry when the rest of the family is flopped out on the couch watching TV. (If they seem to think this is reasonable, they've clearly tuned into a few too many episodes of Leave It To Beaver!)
Learn to cut corners on things that don't matter. Or give yourself permission to delegate them to someone else. Despite what you might have heard, there's no law that says that you have to make all your meals from scratch, clean your own house and faithfully read every issue of Martha Stewart Living (so that you can come up with even more things to do with your "spare time"). Do enough housework to keep yourself from going crazy, but don't overdo it. Better yet, hire someone else to do your cleaning for you so you'll have more time for the things that really matter to you -- like spending time with family members and friends, or investing in your business, or BEADING!
Take care of YOU. Take care of your own needs rather than counting on someone else to take care of them for you. No matter how great your boss, your partner and your kids may be, it's your job to take care of yourself. This is one job you simply can't delegate.
Let Go of Guilt. Guilt is one of the greatest wastes of emotional energy. It causes you to become immobilized in the present because you are dwelling on the past. Guilt can be very debilitating. By introducing logic to help counter-balance the guilt, you can stay better on course.
Establish Boundaries. Boundaries are an imaginary line of protection that you draw around yourself. They are about protecting you from other people's actions. Determine for yourself what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour from other people, including your friends and family members.
Determine Your Own Standards. Get rid of the notion of being a perfectionist. Wean yourself off it by making compromises ~ figure out where the best places to make the compromises are without short-changing yourself, your spouse, your children, your boss, etc. Live by your own standards rather than someone else's. Standards are about YOU and refer to the behaviour and actions you are willing to hold yourself to.
Find Time For Yourself. Being a good parent, partner and professional means being good to yourself first. Use your mind to make some affirmations for yourself. Find ways to relax, relieve tension and minimize stress. Taking some time off for yourself will not only benefit you, but it will benefit your family tremendously!
Be Flexible. Forgive yourself when things don't get done. Understand that with children, things change at a moment's notice. Be ready and willing to assume responsibility for any of the tasks that need to get done at any time. Never get too comfortable, because as soon as you seem to get things under control, they change! Also, realize that in order to achieve success, many women have had to give up their original goals and substitute new ones with different but equal challenges. Negotiate for what you need.
Keep your sense of humor. It's the ultimate weapon against the craziness around you, and the one thing that will keep you sane.
To my cousin, the prettiest one I have... try to have a super wonderful day!
� grizmom at
2006-03-08
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