Me Time
This passed weekend I was able to attend a conference specifically addressed to mamas. It was amazing. It was such a beautiful experience to be in a room with so many different and beautiful women just there to support and uplift other women.
At first I didn't know if I was going to attend the conference. I had never been away from Hudson for more than 2 hours and this conference I would be gone for 8 whole hours. My heart was hurting just thinking about it and my brain was racing. I knew I needed to go....but I didn't want to at the same time. Isn't if funny how as mama's we just can't ever seem to put ourselves first?
I went. Oh I went. I cried when I got in the car but I drove that hour to the event. I felt so at peace when I got there and saw some familiar mom faces and I knew this is where I needed to be this exact day.
Every speaker there spoke straight to my heart and my soul. It was the best experience I could have asked for at this stage in my mama "career".
So, since most of you reading this weren't there I'm just going to touch on a few points that really resonated with me!
- "Own your truth...Allow your truth to evolve...Do not ever apologize for your truth." - Michelle Money
Those words hit me SO hard. Lately, I feel like I've come to understand that I need to own my truth. Own who I am and not ever apologize for that! Some how through out my life I can see that I never felt comfortable doing this. I can see glimpses of the times where I was ready to and then I got scared or someone told me I was in the wrong or blah blah whatever it was it held me back.
It feels great to finally be aware of who I am and who I want to continue to grow into being and from now on there will be no apologizing for it because "What you think of me has nothing to do with me and everything to do with you". Another Michelle Money quote. Seriously, she killed it!
When she talked about this it was all the confirmation I needed that I am doing the right thing by being truth to myself and owning it no matter what anyone else may think.
- "Embrace YOUR normal" - Jenny Wecker (she is the owner of Fawn Design and if you don't know what that is...please go check it out!)
I love how Jenny explained this quote by just saying it's all about being happy with what you have but working towards what you want. My normal is going to be completely different from your normal and yours from the next persons. We all have different journeys and so let's stop comparing someone else's normal to our own. Yes, yes yes!
- "Did your child(ren) come with an instruction manual? No? Here is why.... YOU are the only person who could write the instruction book on how to raise your kid(s)." -Kelly Jensen (if you don't follow Kelly on Instagram please do so right this minute.)
This woman spoke completely to my soul. Everything she said related to everything I struggle with. She addressed mom guilt and renamed it mom shame and reminded us that shame has no place in our lives. There is no room for shame. I honestly wish I could just send all of you her entire lecture she gave. SO SPOT ON! But, I can't so here are a few other favourite points she gave.
- "This is my strength, this I can do" I loved this so much. She told us to find our strengths and just do that in the tough moments. When your child is throwing a tantrum just say to yourself "this is my strength, this I can do" Maybe your strength is happiness, maybe its kindness, maybe its patience. Whatever that strength is, take that hard moment and apply it.
Last point and possibly my favourite...
- "Your family needs to see you do something for you every once in a while, every day even! They need to see you do scary things, courageous things and things that you love! Lead by example!"
I rarely take time for myself and fitting things in that I love just for me has been so hard and taxing on me since having Hudson. My mind always goes to a place of....but Hudson...and while I LOVE every minute I spend with my little H, I need to remember that I am my own person too. There are things that make me happy that have nothing to do with being a mother and THAT IS OKAY!! It is actually a good thing! I want Hudson to see my example and I want him to see who I am so that he can find out who HE is too.
This leads me right into the last lecture I was able to hear.
- "Caring for myself is not self indulgent, it is an act of self love." -Kayti Oldham
Talk about a light bulb moment! It truly is an act of self love to take care of ourselves and by taking care of ourselves we are only going to be able to take care of those we love even better.
Kayti talked about putting our oxygen masks on before we assist putting them on others and that just made so much sense to me! I have no idea why I haven't thought to apply that to daily life until now but that really clicked for me.
My point in this whole post is that whether it be going to an uplifting conference, going on a girls night, or just simply walking down to the nearest coffee shop and enjoying some "me time", it is the best thing we can do for our families and those we love, to just take care of ourselves too.
xo
Love,Lo