Mom Mykayla

Babies require all your attention. From feeding, to changing diapers, to sleepless nights. It is difficult to find time for yourself, but it is so essential to surviving motherhood. Having alone time may seem like a privilege to any mom reading this, but I am telling you, you need it. I know everyone doesn’t have the luxury of dropping the kids off at grandma and grandpa’s, but if you find yourself having any downtime, try to take advantage of it. The first couple years will be rough. This is guaranteed but you’re going to be okay, as long as you remember that you are a person too and you are important, too. 

When I had my daughter, I remember getting comments from others saying that I “don’t act like a mom”, or I don’t “look like a mom”. This always confuses me. Mostly because I was 18 when my daughter was born so of course I didn’t look like all the other moms. As I got older, the comments stayed the same. I embraced this more and more, though. I realized I didn’t seem like other moms because I always made it a point to stay true to myself after I had my daughter. I wanted to be myself but also a mom, not just a mom. The first year or two I struggled with my identity. I didn’t recognize myself in the mirror, my mood was so unstable, I was watching my friends go to college and I was changing diapers. I made a promise to myself that I would find myself again. I wanted my daughter to have a happy mom, that is all I wanted. I began to write in my journal. I found that it is difficult to have friends as a mom so when I felt like I needed someone to talk to, I would write. Through writing, I was able to express myself and have an outlet for my emotions. I also enjoy art. In the few calm moments, I would paint or draw. These were small moments where I was more than just a mom. I was me. The point I am trying to make is it doesn’t matter what you do, but it is important to find something that is only yours. You can have hobbies that you enjoy doing with your kids but I recommend trying to find something that you enjoy doing alone. If you have a partner that you live with, talk to them about this. Let them know you would like a few hours to yourself a week, if possible. I urge you to be a person outside of being a mom.