A recent conversation with a friend compelled me to write about freedom in parenthood over at The WM Parenting Connection
She was lamenting about her bad day at work and all the things she had to deal with. She said that she wished she had the freedom that I had. As a stay at home parent on a career break, she thought my lifestyle was much freer than her own.
She really made me laugh because I am not free. As every parent knows, stay at home or otherwise, your life is never your own again, once you have kids. In essence, you swap one kind of servitude for another kind. You are still in bondage to someone other than yourself.
I am not complaining and wouldn't have it any other way now. I love my new life, even the challenging bits. I am a mother for four years now, but almost every day still feels new.
I mention in the piece the things that I do to make myself feel free in my new lifestyle. I go for breakfasts with friends while my son is at preschool. I take long walks and practice yoga. I write when I can.
What things do you do to make yourself feel free?
I have recently started reading again. For a long time my mind was racing so, to sit quietly and read was a lost pleasure. I also love to watch the waves at the beach... I live in Florida, so that is easy!
ReplyDeleteReading is always good! I have never been to Florida but I hear it is beautiful. We have beautiful beaches here too but the weather is a lot colder!
DeleteI also started reading again recently! During my son's first year every time I had some quiet time I felt too exhausted to concentrate, it's only now that I feel I have the energy to write and read..that being said, it's still occasional!
DeletePractice yoga....... hmmmm that spoke to me.... I taught for 6 years up to 37/38 weeks pregnant and haven't done an Asana since he was born.
ReplyDeleteI know I will get my mojo back and my inner peace if I at least practice again - even if I never teach again.
Thank you for having a prompt in here that spoke to me.
I get my sense of freedom by going for walks and having great chats while he sleeps in the buggy - usually with the lady who runs the local cafe (she's now a therapist and a friend) :-)))
Liska xxx
I only really found yoga recently and although I don't practice every day, I do it where and when I can. Much like blogging! Ah yes, Walks with the buggy. I remember those! My little man is four now so the buggy has been abandoned.
DeleteWhen my kids were small, I saved on some things in order to afford occasional childcare to give me the freedom to have some time for myself. I loved my kids, but as a single with special needs kids, I had to have a break now and then, so that I could come back refreshed.
ReplyDeleteYou did the right thing! Everybody needs a break and it sounds like you had much to contend with.
DeleteI remember booking time away from my last child by going back to college. Loving art brought me back to classes and the college had child care services. It was very fulfilling!
ReplyDeleteNo matter how much we love our children, I really feel we need a little time away from them now and again. Time out to reconnect with ourselves and refresh ourselves.
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