Birthday Wishes

I've found that I become far more excited about my son's birthdays than my own in past few years. Seeing his excitement and loving being around those who love him is priceless to me. But this year, I have to admit I'm a bit excited about my own (which happens to be today).

Not so much that today the date itself is my birthday. Today I've done nothing special at all, but just spent the day with my kiddo and relaxing when I can. Taking a long, hot shower and pampering myself a bit just doing that showed me how the little things really are rare and pleasurable to me since having my son. Long, hot showers, painting my nails, laying down to rest without getting up to run for something, just having a smoke and listening to some music. That's all my downtime, something so rare.

Don't get me wrong. Caring for my son is absolutely amazing and I love being a mommy, but having time for yourself as a stay at home mother is a luxury. You learn to appreciate the little things and be grateful for help every so often.

Alot of people look at a stay at home mother and see someone who doesn't bring in a paycheck so therefore doesn't contribute much. They see us as women who sit around all day and just babysit. Are there women/mothers like that? Sure. But personally, I bust my ass to care for my son, to keep a clean house, to make sure my family is cared for in every way possible aside from bringing in the paycheck.

Does not making money mean that I do any less? Those that say yes? I suggest you leave this blog now. You won't like alot that I think or say. Frankly, I could not care less if you did. If you think because I don't earn a paycheck right now that I don't work, you've never done the job I do. You've never been nursemaid, teacher, maid, chef, companion, personal shopper, triage nurse, everything that's needed by your child, your family.

So this year, I have the chance to take a moment for myself for my birthday. And I'll cherish every second of it, but at the end of the day? I'll be coming home to kiss my baby boy, sound asleep in his bed, and be so thankful to have the career that I do for now. It won't last for long.

Defining Moments

There are moments in our lives that define us all.
Sometimes, they are major milestones: graduation, first love, birth of a child, careers, marriage.
Other times, they are lesser in the way of affecting our lives. Little moments of "eureka" where you realize who you are, where you stand, the individual you have become throughout the course of your life. Those moments are just as defining in the makeup of your being, your standards as the major ones that others may acknowledge.
More often than not, those around you may not be aware of those moments, those seemingly minute changes. Regardless, you are aware that when those occasions occur, something within you realizes a little bit more about yourself.
That, in itself, is definition. That is where how you live and who you are become more clear to yourself and, therefore, to others.
Who you are as an individual, and in my case, a friend, mother, daughter, sister, significant other, becomes more clear with every passing day and even the smallest of changes. Don't ignore those moments; embrace them. They make you who you are and become a legacy for those who love you and those you love.