Hey Mama!! Melody here...
Here is: The Truth About Motherhood... I have been lying…
It's too easy to fall into the trap of showing the easy parts of being a mom, to avoid sounding like you are complaining and to only show the smiles and laughter. All of which I love doing. But I would be lying if I didn't say the following:
Motherhood is RIDICULOUSLY HARD.
Being a mom is SO HARD.
Solo parenting is PAINFULLY LONELY AND SUPER HARD.
Parenting is EXTREMELY HARD.
Disciplining out of love is SUPER HARD.
Sleep deprivation = hard. Breastfeeding = hard. Pregnancy, labor and delivery, post partum...
IT’S ALL REALLY HARD!!!!
Let’s rip off the band aid… even if it’s a super cute, pink and sparkly one… OUCH... time for change, growth and healing!
There is no manual for being a mom.
Nothing prepares you for this. NOTHING!!!
But… there are ways to learn, change, grow and make it a whole lot easier for you to thrive as a mom!
Here are a few important things I wish I had known sooner as a mom to help you thrive in your motherhood journey...
Let's start a Motherhood Revolution and look at how to Dominate as a mom (in 10 ways):
Revolution is described in the dictionary as: “a sudden, radical, or complete change”. All of which occurs when you have a child and join the motherhood journey. Your entire world literally feels like its flipping upside down, you either fall flat on your face, land on a weird angle, or you slightly shift from side to side and have no idea where you are going or what to do about it. Your life, now as a mom, will never be the same, your sails have changed course and you are off riding the waves into the unknown. Let’s explore the unknown together, I may not be an expert, but I am a mom of three and I’ve rode a few waves in my day! Did you know…
Motherhood is described in the dictionary as: “the state of being a mother; maternity and the qualities or spirit of a mother”. All of these meanings bring us back to that same starting point of when we become moms and our journey begins. I wanted to shine some light and sunshine/positive vibes on what the best things about being a mom are... so I asked a few people and this is what they said:
Compilations of Moms – the best things about being a mom
"Feeling a sense of fulfillment, needed, wanted and accepted."
"The little things - snuggles, the first smile then every smile after, when your baby willingly hugs you, all the different milestones along the way, watching them explore and learn. Growing yourself as a person and as a mother."
"Giggles."
"Sharing moments with your family."
"Having someone else that loves you as much as you love them, looking back into your eyes."
"Experiencing LOVE like never before."
"Learning how to be happy and content with someone."
"Passing on your love of life with your children."
"Having a reason to live."
"Always feeling accepted and never judged."
I wanted to lead with this because we all need some uplifting in our lives!
NOW... here are a few ways to really make a positive impact as a mom!
10 ways to DOMINATE in Motherhood:
1. Self-care – Remember before you had kids, rewind and circle back to that moment, when you used to sit back and literally smell the aroma of your coffee brewing in peace, walk by a candle shop and smell the beautiful scents, spray perfume on your hairbrush to make your hair smell nice, paint your toe nails with scented watermelon nail polish regularly before you had mom ogre feet, now… fast forward a bit and can you relate to this… all you are smelling now is poopy diapers and reheating your coffee over and over and over. PAUSE. REGROUP. CIRCLE BACK. The poop can wait. GO FILL YOUR CUP and not with the stale coffee from who knows when, grind up those beans or scoop out the fresh pre-ground coffee, take a big sip and enjoy it. TURN MACHINE ON. INHALE. POUR. EXHALE. SIP. TASTE. SAVOUR. Okay now go before your baby gets diaper rash. Step one complete – you have succeeded in your first step of filling your cup... it all begins with self care! Self care can be as simple as filling your cup first, or last but hey getting it into you, and same goes with hygiene, or whatever perks you up emotionally, physically, or mentally! To be the happiest version of you, you need to show yourself the love!
Here are a few self-care tips, that helped me become a happier and saner mom, that I wish I had known sooner:
- Wash your hair and or get it cut, I am all for that messy bun when you’re in a rush or don’t feel the urge to withstand your babies cries while you shower and attempt to blow dry or style your locks, but you may just feel a little bit happier and cleaner to take on your day If you treat yourself to a little pampering.
- Write in your journal and or boost your mental state with a little adult time. Whether this is a self-reflection of your day or your upcoming events, or on the flip side reading a book that allows you to escape for a little while, get your outlet.
- Unwind and pamper yourself with a hot bath/shower and some nice herbal tea to calm your spirit and sooth your soul. You have earned it!
2. Network with people who build you up / mentors / people who inspire you / people who make you want to be BETTER. UPLIFT YOURSELF!!!!
3. Listen to podcasts/ read materials that uplift your spirit – I have said this before and I will say it again, negativity and criticism is the enemy here, be gone negative Nancy, no one wants you here!
4. Stop sabotaging yourself – you must believe that you can do anything, that you have superpowers and that you are in control of your life and take the reins on every single day. Mama you birthed a human once, or many times, and because of this you are legit a superhero! Believe in yourself and your potential to be the most amazing mom ever!
5. Stop overthinking it – sometimes you need to stop overthinking and trying to control every aspect of being a mom. Motherhood is spontaneous. IT IS CHANGE. You can’t control everything when it is constantly changing. There will be ups and downs, like a wave, you need to learn to balance on that surfboard and securely believe you can sustain any wave approaching.
6. Food. Enough said. JUST EAT. DRINK. REFUEL YOUR BODY AND YOUR MIND.
7. Keep your home tidy – check out my other blog posts for tips on how to live simpler with less stuff and more time!
8. Simplify your life – Purge, organize and then live a little less predictable. Can you relate to that feeling of boredom when you are home with your babies… if I must watch baby shark one more time… or entertain on this baby mat for one second longer… sigh… just stop right there… bundle up and go outside. Get some fresh air, change your perspective and change your outlook and do something that fuels your spirit. Even if you legit go sit on a bench outside in the rain, it is the getting out there that is the hardest push, and once you get out there you will literally be so much happier.
9. Encourage yourself – Take yourself out for a coffee, lunch, to the flower shop to smell some beautifully arranged bouquets or better yet head to a book shop and browse the self-help books filled with quotes and inspirational décor (also home stores have these) that perk you up! Sometimes the smallest little sayings can resonate with you and make you feel human again!
10. Self-love – BE KIND TO YOURSELF and LOVE YOURSELF. Every aspect of you makes you an amazing, beautiful, kind, caring, intelligent, and unique mom. Now GO dominate in your role of motherhood!
Here are a few of my favorite quotes about self-love… they hug me, right in "the feels", so I hope they hug you too:
- "You are worth the quiet moment. You are worth the deeper breaths and the time it takes to slow down, be still, and rest." — Morgan Harper Nichols
- "Take care of yourself as if you are the most awesome person, you have ever met." – Jen Sincero
- "You have been criticizing yourself for years, and it hasn't worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens." — Louise L. Hay
- "Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won't accept." — Anna Taylor
- "Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort." — Deborah Day
Thank you for reading: Thrive Mama Thrive Blog. Check out my other blog posts for motherhood tips, mom stories, inspiration and encouragement - from one mama to another 🫶🏼.
I hope this helps you to be a happier mom, to thrive as a mom and helps you to dominate in your new/existing motherhood role. From one mama to another - you are amazing!
🖤 - 𝓜𝓮𝓵𝓸𝓭𝔂 𝓢𝓽𝓸𝓷𝓮