Surving Motherhood in My Twenties

Nobody said being a mom was going to be easy.  And I'm certainly glad no one lied to me.  It takes an insane amount of courage and an even more amount of willingness to surrender some selfish ways.  For some of us this means putting at halt a Master's degree, saving for a home instead of a girls weekend in Vegas (sometimes), watching Toy Story for the 89th time instead of that Housewives of New Jersey season finale, and so on.  Like a fool madly in love, I continue to give and trade pieces of myself in return for a four-year old smile.  No regrets, truthfully.

Said mama life is a little more interesting when you are 26.  Especially when you look 12. 

Let's face it, age is not just a number.  Raising a family in your early to mid twenties is not the cool thing to do anymore, another truth.  When I became pregnant at 22, it felt like an awkward age to have a child.  I wasn't in high school and teen enough to call it a tragedy in the making, but I hadn't "experienced", lived or worked enough to properly settle and start a family.  At least that's what I was told by way of sad reactions to my news and non-genuine congratulations.  I also hadn't married yet, either. Gasp.

In defense, I was going to earn a B.A. from a four year university by the time my son heard my voice for the very first time, I had created millions of memories with beautiful people in beautiful places, I had lost.  Most importantly I had found love and a partner for life that was happily joining me in this madness of parenting.  Although, this is an entirely different story, I took with me one enormous truth from being young, in love and pregnant: Your life, my life is not over, only beginning. 

Which brings me here.  Where I've spent my twenties learning how to survive my life as it is, with 2 boys that call me their Mama.  I've broken it down to three key words.

Balance- You cannot truly love another, if you do not love yourself.  I live by that.  It is just as important to care for your vitamins, playdates, bedtime reading and birthdays as much as your children.  Anything in excess or insufficient can and will destroy.
Goals- Short term goals keep you sane and long term goals keep you grounded.  Write them down.
Support- Look around, someone close to you thinks you are beautiful and badass.

I am taking these truths with me and running with them.  Feel free to join.


Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you want to do...