Mama Matters

Lately I find myself more and more distraught by the lack of paid parental leave and support. I'm 99% sure I am done having babies, so I won't have to endure this stressful period again. And how sad that it is so stressful. Yes, the haters will say it's my choice or your choice to have children. So, it's our own issue to work out and no one else's responsibility. But what happened to the village? To the thought of a community? And supporting one another, supporting mothers.  My first child, my company covered 60% of my salary through the disability. and 1 month later, in the next year they were covering 100% of the disability period. Of course, I tried to ask if they could make the exception for me but then they'd have to do it for everyone in the corporation. Lucky me, ended up with a c-section so I got 2 additional weeks of 60% pay. But there is a 1 week waiting period in there too and you get nothing for that week!  I'd love to have time to learn the rese...

Why do moms feel so much guilt? Today, I had an 18 month check up with my youngest daughter. The doctor was asking me how many words we are saying. And I'm thinking well, mama, dada, thank you and the rest I am not so sure of. And she looked at me perplexed that I didn't have the exact count. I asked how many words she should be articulating and it's 10-20 words. I instantly think we have to hurry home and start doing the word books!  So then mom guilt and failure infiltrates. Another question I got; does she know her body parts? I'm like this is part of the wellness check at 18 months! I instantly think, we have to add working on body parts to the list.  Then, she asked if we did swim lessons yet. And I know the importance of water safety, I am a big advocate of it, but I haven't found a replacement yet for our prior swim instructor. And I was reminded on how important that is to do. Then, they ask how she is eating. and I think well, we lived off mac & cheese ...

 I am on this mission to find my purpose and I won't stop until I get there. I am gainfully employed but I have fallen into a career path that just isn't fulfilling to who I am, what I stand for and who I want to be. I don't have enough satisfaction anymore from it. You can be successful at something but that doesn't mean it is satisfying to you. I am in the process now of sorting all of this out. I want to work with a company that empowers working parents and really supports them. Or a company that is fighting for change in society and making a difference.  My husband is super supportive of all my ideas. There are days he tells me this is the hand I was dealt in the moment. But the hand I have right now isn't good enough. I need the flush baby (is that the best hand? I don't gamble) or whatever the best hand is...that is what I want! Because I was destined for GREAT and AMAZING things. And they will come.  I have laid the groundwork to my own Nonprofit in the m...

I like to start Saturday mornings by going for a jog or walk with my daughters. Of course, this entails packing endless snacks and bribing my oldest with my cell phone. She gets to go on YouTube kids for a little entertainment. Otherwise, she really doesn't want to sit in a stroller for an hour.  I don't do this because I have to lose weight. Sure, I am 20 pounds heavier than I was before my second pregnancy. Which sounds alarming and like a lot when I write this out. I need movement in my life. Movement is medicine for me, it is another form of therapy. I LOVE to sweat. One of the perks of living in Florida, you semi pass out from the heat in July ha. But I get to do this! How lucky am I to be able to move my body and force my girls along for the ride? They do enjoy it though and we run thru the sprinklers, they go off at 8 AM!  Since my second pregnancy, I have shifted to focusing on celebrating what my body can do. Like carry full-term pregnancies and recover from c-section...

  It has been quite the week, at least for me. But it is Thursday! I’ve been solo parenting for 5-6 weeks. Which I know is nothing for single parents- mad respect for all of you and for military spouses etc. But we all have our struggles and thresholds. This morning alone felt like two days combined. I have failed to properly potty train my oldest but there is research that says nighttime training is challenging. Right? I mean, I am annoyed some nights when my bladder wakes me up, so I get it! Let me go back, I did try to reup on more pull-ups. Did the Instacart order with those as my #1 item. And while Instacart was adding my overpriced items from Publix, I was waiting at the pharmacy drive thru for my youngest daughters rx. Sidenote, the doctor’s office forgot to call it in earlier, so we had to wait 15-20 mins. While waiting, my older daughter had to go potty. So, in the 3 of us went to the family potty. And there is my Instacart delivery on my doorstep in the heat, while I am n...