For decades the question lives, “Are parents juggling more and more and losing themselves?”
Do you feel that you gave too much to your children and lost parts of yourself along the way?
You have the privilege of looking back and then passing on your mistakes and triumphs.
I for sure did not rest enough, spend enough on myself, nor say no enough. I do feel I was a good and am a good mother. I am a working woman/mother. I continue to be motivated by wanting to be a positive role model. That works for me as a motivator to set an example of a person who is being real, having fun in life, and showing the values to my family that are top notch no matter what. Now I rest, say no, spend money on me when the funds are available, focus on who I am and what is next for me, what is on my dream list and leap towards that. I can say, “Sorry, I can’t talk right now, I am busy. I will call you after four.” I don’t think I said that when I was wearing more of the mother role in the past years.
Do you think you tried to do it all as a parent? What mistakes do you think you made that if you had been able to “stop” yourself then, you would have? What parts of you had to go dormant then? (My writer went dormant)
Let’s post comments here so we can pass it on to other parents. As a woman said to me at the coffee shop yesterday, “You owe it to pass on your knowledge to others and not just keep it for your own learning.”
You can also email me natalie@emptynestsupport.com
Call for a private telephone consultation
Ask me to speak in your community
800-446-3310 toll free
Los Angeles, 818-763-0188
Natalie Caine, M.A. natalie@lifeintransition.org
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