This week, we are uber excited—you might even say “revved” up—to have Laura Mount, a wife, mother, and athlete, here sharing her story. Laura is a FitFluential Ambassador (that is where she and I “met”) and competes in endurance events. She is a real woman, living each day, trying to be the best her she can be. She believes in making things happen and is a great champion of causes and people.
——-
Be Enough!
These words REALLY speak to me.
I am a reformed office worker living the dream of being a stay-at-home mom. I say that with MUCH sarcasm. I never loved any of my desk jobs. I hated them, in fact. Being trapped inside behind a desk killed me, but even after getting out from behind the desk I can still feel its weight on top of me like an anvil.
I am at home with my children. The place I truly believe I should be now. The only way I can imagine raising them.
Why can this NOT be enough for me?
It’s not like I have the strong desire to be working or climbing any corporate ladders. I don’t feel like I am missing out on something as a result of my choosing to be home with my children, but… there is a pressure that I feel.
Pressure that I should be contributing something in the way of income (though we don’t need it) and that if what I am doing doesn’t create income then it’s not really worthy of discussion. Even if I’m still contributing to the betterment of my community and other people’s lives. As though if it isn’t “justified” with a paycheck than it is not worthwhile in other people’s eyes.
It’s not like I sit around and eat bon bons all day while my kids are at school. I work.—unpaid—to care for my family, to give my kids opportunities. And while intellectually I know it is a worthwhile cause, something in my gut makes me feel less than.
This feeling comes and goes in my life, but right now—in this moment—I’m feeling like I AM ENOUGH! How? Did I get a job? NOPE!
Raising kids is HARD WORK. Staying home is a choice I make every day! I am happy to do it… and while I do that, I continue to do things for myself. I squash that mom guilt down and I lace up the shoes and go for a run. I’ve found a way to be myself for the sake of me!
For me it’s exercise, racing, training. I took up triathlons when my kids were little and got back to running on a regular basis. I got picked up by a tri team because of my love of blogging for the sake of maintaining my voice. And becoming part of that tri team has helped me to continue to be enough. To use it as an opportunity to give back to my community and inspire people! Right now these things are making me feel like ENOUGH!
Being ENOUGH can only be defined by you! My ENOUGH is likely very different than YOUR ENOUGH! So whatever makes you feel ALIVE and CONNECTED is YOUR ENOUGH. Don’t be afraid or ashamed about it. Go after it.
What about you? What are you going to go after today?
I absolutely love these empowering words and indeed- it’s all about our choices and MINDSET!
Galit Breen recently posted..Inch by Inch
Such a great post…I think we all feel this way at some point. Needing to “squash the mom guilt.” It’s hard work to feel like you are enough, doing enough. Congratulations to you in your moment of being enough. In finding something “YOU” love and that makes you happy. It’s invigorating to read your story…
Shannon from ‘mynewfavoriteday’ recently posted..Can you be burned out and still be inspired?
Laura – It’s so lovely to meet you! And this post – YES, YES, YES. I feel all of those things. It was like you peeked into my heart when you wrote it.
Missy | Literal Mom recently posted..The Literal Mom Must Have Resource List.
Love this post! I’m a new fan to the blog and am so glad I stumbled upon it!
Oh, I’ve got to squash that mom-guilt too! It’s so true that we need to keep doing whatever keeps us alive and connected. It took me sometime to learn that I needed to do that to be a sane and better mother. Great post!
Mama, Hear Me Roar recently posted..Stay-home, homeschooling mother (a day in a life)
First off I want to say superb blog! I had a quick question in which I’d like to ask if you don’t mind. I was curious to know how you center yourself and clear your mind before writing. I’ve had a tough time clearing my thoughts in getting my ideas out there. I truly do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally wasted simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any recommendations or hints? Thank you!
Monique recently posted..modern mind control
Laura, I can relate to this post so much, especially this: “if what I am doing doesn’t create income then it’s not really worthy of discussion.” I’m not sure why I continue to struggle with this, exactly, because my whole career before I was I mom, I knew without a doubt that I was not driven by money or prestige. And yet earning nothing for the hardest job I’ve ever done feels wrong, somehow. Like it’s not “worth” as much. Of course, this is all mindset, as Galit said. It’s just something I’ve got to get past in my own head. Thanks for the food for thought!
Abby recently posted..No One Prepares You for This Stuff