When your daughter looks at you, does life as a woman look appealing? Would she wish for a life like yours?
Can you remember watching your mother as a girl, and making decisions about your own life based on how you saw hers to be?
Sometimes I observe myself being martyr-Mummy – selflessly working myself exhausted – thanklessly organising, helping, driving, cooking, cleaning, tidying, worrying for everyone else in the family.
Sometimes I observe myself being witch-Mummy – at my wits end, shrieking at everyone to pick up, follow through, shape up, and help out, and not leave everything to me.
Sometimes I observe myself being smother-Mummy – doing for others what they can perfectly well do themselves, over-thinking plans, coming up with better ways to do things (my way), and generally being too much in charge.
None of these must feel good or look good from my daughter’s point of view.
Fortunately, she also sees me passionate about my pastimes and giving myself regular time for them. She sees me loving what I do for much of the day. She sees me laughing with my friends and enjoying her company enormously. She sees me taking pleasure in time spent with her Dad, to which she is sometimes excluded. She sees me taking time to be by myself, every day. She sees me living a life that is pleasurable, rewarding, stimulating, challenging, and sometimes full of peace.
If you could think of one thing to stop doing and one thing to start doing that would make your life better, what would they be?
A small change can make a big difference…
