Of course parenting makes me happy! Right?
Well … no, not really … But that’s wrong … Right?
Google gave me 884,000 results for the exact search phrase, “I don’t like being a mom.” That means that there are a lot of women who are unhappy being a mother. Are you one of them?
Two Years Ago I Hated Being a Mother
My children’s arguing sucked the energy from my weary body. The toys and Legos on the floor bruised my feet. Most days I felt like I could disappear forever, because they certainly weren’t listening to me. I resented my husband because he could leave the children for 9 hours by going to work.
I felt like each child had given me an 18 year sentence. By the birth of my 5th child, my eldest was 9 years old, so my sentence had grown to 27 years.
Society tells us that “becoming a mother is the hardest and most rewarding job there is.” Celebrities say it, blogging mothers say it. Grandmothers say it.
But what if it’s not true for most of us? What if most of us find the job hard and very unrewarding?
The First Thing I Did
The first thing I did was admit it — accept it.
I don’t like being a mother. I don’t like my children.
I felt a big pressure leave my chest, because I wasn’t going to try to live up to that motto any longer.
If I went to a job outside the home, I may be asked to do tasks that I just didn’t like; cleaning the toilets or doing mind-numbing data entry. I wouldn’t have to like it. I’d do it because it was part of the job.
Much of parenting is like that; dirty, stinky, mind numbing and exhausting.
It’s ok that I don’t like being a mother. Parenting is draining my cup. But now what do I do?
What Do I Like to Do?
I love art and creativity; drawing, jewelry design, scrapbooking, calligraphy and nail art. But I had given all of that up by the birth of my 4th child. I was too tired.
I had put myself last on my list of priorities. This was my greatest mistake.
I Put Myself Back on the Top of My List
I started exercising regularly and taking more showers. I got back into my beads and started creating. And the most important for me—I began painting my nails regularly again.
Slowly, my cup of energy started to fill back up and I had more patience for my children’s crazy antics. This can happen for you too. Start today!
What About You?
What have you given up for your children? I’d love to hear your story.
