When people blog about motherhood, they usually start off by saying, “being a mother is the most wonderful thing that I have ever done”.  I will say, that being a mother has some incredible rewards.  However, there are some negative things to being a mother as well.

Being a mother is like taking on a third full-time job. There is a lot of overtime with no pay. Why do I say third?  Well those of you who are married know, that a husband is a full – time job without the mental health coverage.

While I would not trade my experience of motherhood for anything, there are a few little things that I can no longer do, which are causing a little bit of resentment.   So for those of you who don’t know it yet, I am a Sista’, and everyone knows that a Sista and her hair goes hand and hand.

We spend hours at the beauty shop making sure that our hair is just right.  I cannot BEGIN to imagine how much money I have spent over the years on my hair.  Like most women, I go through phrases – short hair to long hair, weaves to an occasional wig.  When you have a child, you usually cannot spend 2 to 3 hours a week at a beauty shop plus the required maintenance. Between laundry, cooking, ballet, girl scouts, gymnastics, shopping, play dates and a job – when can you make the time for yourself?

Lately, my hair has been on the back burner, as well as make-up and my well put together outfits.  And let’s not even discuss exercise! My once brick house body is starting to resemble a trailer park after a tornado.

I do shower every day, but I cannot tell you that shaving my legs is something that I have time to do.  There are days where I only get the required 5-minute shower per day.  I can go weeks not getting a proper night’s sleep.

Last night, I did get a full eight hours of sleep.  I don’t think that I have done that since I returned from the United States last summer.  Yes folks, I was approaching a year since I slept more than 5 or 6 hours in one night.  It is amazing what a good night sleep can do.  It gives you mental clarity; it helps you realize how important it is to take care of yourself.  I am not saying that I will not be burning the candle at both ends by tomorrow but today I am on a new mission.

My mission is to make more time for me.  I miss having long hair, I miss sitting under the dryer and reading a book.  I miss watching an adult movie.

Get your minds out the gutter, not that kind of adult movie.

You know we all have those inspirational movies that we like to watch over and over again. One of my favorite movies is I Can Do Bad All By Myself.  In fact, I am pretty blessed and lucky.  I have most of what I want and with hard work I am on track to achieve the rest. There is nothing really bad about me; I just love this movie. When Gladys Knight sings, it gives me inspiration.  If I could find the song on ITunes, it would make my day.

My lonely point is that I don’t make enough time for me.  So if you are similar to me, needing more time for yourself, remember that if you don’t make time for yourself eventually you will not have any time for anyone.  So I will start my plan today.

One of the things, I said earlier is that I feel resentful that I have not made the time to upkeep myself.  When you feel resentful, that comes out in many ways.

1. Neglect of your responsibility
2. Poor Attitude
3. Increase in unhealthy activities
4. Laziness
5. Loneliness

 

So, if you get up and look in the mirror and your eye brows looks like you are a relative of Grotto Marks or there is no need to buy a new weave because you can recycle what is under your arm pits – Make time for yourself! If your legs have been mistaken for Big Foot’s lately or you are growing a goatee on your chin – MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF PLEASE!