For the past few days I’ve had a weird feeling. With everything I’ve done it has followed me. School pick up and drop off, at the gym, while making dinner for my family and even at the grocery store. It’s hard to explain, but here it goes.
A light feeling. Something that makes me smile for no reason. Something that makes me just shrug my shoulders when something unexpected happens. Something that makes my heart sing when I get a hug from my kids. And I finally figured it out.
I’m content.
Yup. This unfamiliar feeling that has been following me around everywhere has been so weird because I haven’t felt it for a long time. Yes, in general I’m a pretty happy person. Life is good. But, since becoming a mom I have always felt like I was chasing something. Having a clean house or perfectly polite children or getting my babies to sleep through the night.
I have learned five words that have really resonated with me. Stay in your own lane.
So simple I might just have over looked this for years. I really think I had been consumed by comparing myself against other moms. And it has been robbing me from enjoying the simple and wonderful moments of motherhood. And, I am simply done doing that.
Somehow, someway I have seemed to let that all go. I don’t even know exactly how or when I did it, but I feel like a vice grip has been lifted off of me. I’ve gotten to a point where I just don’t care what others think about my parenting style or what I serve for dinner. I don’t care if I can’t run as fast as the woman next to me on the treadmill, or if she has a bigger house than me. My kids don’t care. Neither does my husband. What they care about is me having a smile on my face and that we can enjoy quality time together.
So now when my toddler and baby naps in the afternoon I might enjoy a cup of coffee and catch up on Netflix instead of organizing the kitchen pantry. I will laugh when my kid gets an adorable milk mustache instead of sighing rushing to wipe his face before gets a dribble on his shirt. As corny as it sounds, I am going to do my very best to enjoy these moments when they are little because life is flying by and when you stay in your own lane, it’s looking pretty good.
Contentment is a wonderful path to be on. Life is easier and more fun when on it. Enjoy the shift in your thought pattern.
What a great post! I’m so glad you have found contentment in Motherhood and life!! Kids can be hard work but they do bring SO much joy! It’s difficult not to compare yourself to others but we can all learn a lesson from you and just be happy!! Thanks for this!