Dictionary.com defines 'mom' or 'mother' as
These perfectly combine, I think, to create a term that accurately depicts and defines so many moms in today's fast-paced world. So many feel that they are being pigeon-holed into trying to fit into a cookie-cutter image of this woman who is: in perfect shape because she works out all the time in her coordinated workout pants and sports bra; volunteers at her kids school; organizes the talent show AND leads her daughter Girl Scout troop; is the Team Mom for her sons soccer team; has clean baseboards AND mirrors; meal preps every week so that her family has all organically-grown sustainable food that is prepped without any artificial sugar or ever stored in plastic containers; has perfectly manicured nails and a perfectly up-to-date wardrobe; an amazing sex-life that is exciting and happens daily; a full-time job where she excels and is a leader, but not-too-pushy where she is thought of to be too masculine; keeps the constant just-enough amount of cleavage to convey sexiness and confidence but not too much that she's viewed as a slut; keeps her social media image on point; makes Pinterest-worthy dishes and decorates her home in the same sense and STILL somehow has time to create and maintain meaningful relationships with other women in the same walk of life. BUT at the same time we are to understand that the world knows that this woman is impossible to create, but also that we are conditioned from a very, very, very young age to subconsciously know that this should be every woman's goal and that this is the standard we should rise to meet.
Ugh.
Should I just hand my kids over now, because Lord knows I'm not the cream of the crop when it comes to motherhood. Hell, I'll be impressed if come in the top four-millionth place.
What color ribbon do you think that place is? Probably baby-poop-brown. Yeah. Sounds about right. I'll add it to the mantle in a frame with a certificate titled "Four-Millionth-Best Mom!"
And I think it's sad that very few, if any, can meet these "goals". What if you don't want to have kids? Or can't have kids? What if you're fat? Or too skinny? Or don't want to get married? Or are bi-sexual? Or a lesbian? Or have trauma in your past, or in your present? What if you don't have time to be at the soccer games because your job or jobs are needed to support the ever-rising cost of living in our country? What if your happily-ever-after has the bottom fall out? What if you're raising kids alone? Lose your job? Re-entering the job force? What if you deal with Postpartum Depression (righhhhtttt hereeeee!), or anxiety, or other illnesses you can't see? What if you have any number of things that are against what is "expected"? Oh, well then you are guilted into hushing your short-comings from the world, and isolating yourself from the masses, all the while not knowing that SO MANY OTHERS are experiencing life just as you are. Regardless of where you are in your walk of life, sometimes the expectations can become deafening.
You, me, we are not alone.
So, I guess that's a pretty drab intro to the blog you have stumbled upon. Sorry not sorry? I feel that it's something that needs to be said out loud before I try to sell you on my world and the words I type onto my screen. I don't want to lead anyone into thinking that I am in anyway better, more prepared, better versed or somehow a pro at this parenting thing... or this wife thing... or this teaching thing... or this life thing. Truthfully I am a mess, and I am only very recently realizing that 1. That's pretty normal. 2. That being a mess doesn't make me a bad parent, wife or human. and 3. The reality of parenting and living needs to be discussed more. We need opportunities to know that we aren't going crazy when we seriously consider leaving our kids, partners, pets, homes and jobs for an alias named Jen who works at a truck stop for tips and cigarettes and rents a bed in a shack in a literal one stop light town just so we can pee alone one. damn. time.
See, I am realizing that all moms, at one time or another, have wondered if having kids was a good decision, if there is someone else out there that is a better match for them, and if their chances of being a road groupie for New Kids on the Block have really passed (they haven't, if interested in pursuing this adventure please email me).
Also, as an ode to my past followers over on Mommyhood and the Journey to Short Shorts ,I needed a new platform. I realized that my last blog was so tied up in my past life, I couldn't move forward with it. So. Much. Has. Changed. Mostly for the better, but I couldn't drag that blog forward and expect the transition to be everything you guys have come to expect and deserve. I needed a clean slate. So here we are.
New hubby. New baby. Older amazing first kiddo. New goals. New life. Can't wait to motivate us all to be our best, and normalize the "flaws" so many of us experience....
Don't worry, in my escape plan, ya'all can grab an alias and come too.
I can't wait to dive in.
Until next time, XoXo
"noun; one's female parent",
and defines the suffix 'osis' as
"a suffix occurring in nouns that denote actions, conditions, or states (hypnosis; leukocytosis; osmosis), especially disorders or abnormal states (chlorosis; neurofibromatosis; tuberculosis)."
These perfectly combine, I think, to create a term that accurately depicts and defines so many moms in today's fast-paced world. So many feel that they are being pigeon-holed into trying to fit into a cookie-cutter image of this woman who is: in perfect shape because she works out all the time in her coordinated workout pants and sports bra; volunteers at her kids school; organizes the talent show AND leads her daughter Girl Scout troop; is the Team Mom for her sons soccer team; has clean baseboards AND mirrors; meal preps every week so that her family has all organically-grown sustainable food that is prepped without any artificial sugar or ever stored in plastic containers; has perfectly manicured nails and a perfectly up-to-date wardrobe; an amazing sex-life that is exciting and happens daily; a full-time job where she excels and is a leader, but not-too-pushy where she is thought of to be too masculine; keeps the constant just-enough amount of cleavage to convey sexiness and confidence but not too much that she's viewed as a slut; keeps her social media image on point; makes Pinterest-worthy dishes and decorates her home in the same sense and STILL somehow has time to create and maintain meaningful relationships with other women in the same walk of life. BUT at the same time we are to understand that the world knows that this woman is impossible to create, but also that we are conditioned from a very, very, very young age to subconsciously know that this should be every woman's goal and that this is the standard we should rise to meet.
Ugh.
Should I just hand my kids over now, because Lord knows I'm not the cream of the crop when it comes to motherhood. Hell, I'll be impressed if come in the top four-millionth place.
What color ribbon do you think that place is? Probably baby-poop-brown. Yeah. Sounds about right. I'll add it to the mantle in a frame with a certificate titled "Four-Millionth-Best Mom!"
And I think it's sad that very few, if any, can meet these "goals". What if you don't want to have kids? Or can't have kids? What if you're fat? Or too skinny? Or don't want to get married? Or are bi-sexual? Or a lesbian? Or have trauma in your past, or in your present? What if you don't have time to be at the soccer games because your job or jobs are needed to support the ever-rising cost of living in our country? What if your happily-ever-after has the bottom fall out? What if you're raising kids alone? Lose your job? Re-entering the job force? What if you deal with Postpartum Depression (righhhhtttt hereeeee!), or anxiety, or other illnesses you can't see? What if you have any number of things that are against what is "expected"? Oh, well then you are guilted into hushing your short-comings from the world, and isolating yourself from the masses, all the while not knowing that SO MANY OTHERS are experiencing life just as you are. Regardless of where you are in your walk of life, sometimes the expectations can become deafening.
You, me, we are not alone.
So, I guess that's a pretty drab intro to the blog you have stumbled upon. Sorry not sorry? I feel that it's something that needs to be said out loud before I try to sell you on my world and the words I type onto my screen. I don't want to lead anyone into thinking that I am in anyway better, more prepared, better versed or somehow a pro at this parenting thing... or this wife thing... or this teaching thing... or this life thing. Truthfully I am a mess, and I am only very recently realizing that 1. That's pretty normal. 2. That being a mess doesn't make me a bad parent, wife or human. and 3. The reality of parenting and living needs to be discussed more. We need opportunities to know that we aren't going crazy when we seriously consider leaving our kids, partners, pets, homes and jobs for an alias named Jen who works at a truck stop for tips and cigarettes and rents a bed in a shack in a literal one stop light town just so we can pee alone one. damn. time.
See, I am realizing that all moms, at one time or another, have wondered if having kids was a good decision, if there is someone else out there that is a better match for them, and if their chances of being a road groupie for New Kids on the Block have really passed (they haven't, if interested in pursuing this adventure please email me).
Also, as an ode to my past followers over on Mommyhood and the Journey to Short Shorts ,I needed a new platform. I realized that my last blog was so tied up in my past life, I couldn't move forward with it. So. Much. Has. Changed. Mostly for the better, but I couldn't drag that blog forward and expect the transition to be everything you guys have come to expect and deserve. I needed a clean slate. So here we are.
New hubby. New baby. Older amazing first kiddo. New goals. New life. Can't wait to motivate us all to be our best, and normalize the "flaws" so many of us experience....
Don't worry, in my escape plan, ya'all can grab an alias and come too.
I can't wait to dive in.
Until next time, XoXo
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