May 5, 2015
Today, I accomplished something that I never thought I would ever be able to do.  I did the Crow pose in a yoga class.  Now for those of you who aren't familiar with this pose, you do a deep squat down to the floor with knees wide, place your hands between your knees in front of you and then try and lean forward and balance your body on your arms...that is a VERY quick breakdown of the pose.  I have been trying and trying to come into this pose for a long time and I finally did it today!! Not for long, mind you, but 2 seconds is better than ZERO! 
My lesson for today was to KEEP TRYING. Even if it is the 103rd time doing it, the 104th just may be the time you succeed!  It is an amazing feeling to know you perservered and succeeded at something. 
This is a HUGE week for me, you all!  After the week is done, I will be able to finally, finally, finally teach my very own yoga classes.  It is has been a long journey and I know that the journey is really just beginning.  CAN. NOT. WAIT!!!
I truly hope you are accomplishing your goals and crushing things that are just plain hard. Because in the end, doing the hard things makes you better and that, my friends, is truly what life is all about!
Namaste,
Jen

So here I am. My very first blog post ever!  Exciting yet absolutely terrifying at the same time. I wrote this article a few weeks ago on being a mama when I was feeling like I was doing a less than stellar job with my 11 month old and three year old.  When I stopped for a few minutes and looked at them, I was flooded with all these thoughts.  If you have any to add...please do! We all need as much help and support as we can get!

Utterly Fantastic!

My first child was born just over 3 years ago and my youngest is almost a year old...so by NO means do I claim to be a “seasoned veteran” at this whole parenting thing.  However, I will say this, sometimes in order to just get myself through the day, I have to tell myself that I DO know what I am doing (even though many, many people, books, professionals, websites, etc, etc,) would refute that statement vehemently. As mamas, we are constantly second guessing ourselves, especially with our first borns, and I have come to the stark realization that we need to stop this!  There are many way to completely mess up our children...am I doing some/many/all of them?? Probably every day! I used to peruse mommy blogs and websites, Google different medical ailments in babies and toddlers in a complete panic, ask family and friends their opinions on this, that and the other of what the right thing to do for my babies was and then one day, I stopped.  I am not sure when it happened, it just did.  Maybe it was in one of my coffee-laden routines of each and every morning, when I looked at my kids and realized how happy and healthy they are.  Maybe it was in the nightly routine that my daughter and I have now, when I was rocking her at 3:30 a.m. and reassuring her I was there for her, feeling her soft skin against my cheek.  Or maybe, just maybe, it was when I looked in the mirror one day and truly saw the Mama I have become.  A good one.  The best one, in my kids’ and husband’s eyes.  Every day, I am seeing her more and more.  And she has some advice for other mamas who struggle with feeling like they don’t know what on God’s green Earth they are doing.  A Top 10 list if you will.  Here it is:

10.  It’s totally okay that you are addicted to your phone.  Some days it’s our only contact with the outside world and grown-ups.  So go ahead, check Facebook one more time before lunch.

9. Your child/children will not die just because you leave them with someone else.  Yes, they may cry and yes it’s hard to leave them and your heart may feel like it’s breaking, but it’s not.  They will be just fine...and so will you!

8. A friend told me once, “Pick one or two people you really trust and those are your go-to people for advice and help with raising kids.” This stuck with me.  My go-to’s are my family doctor and my best friend.  They put up with my crazies!

7. You are not evil if you formula feed your baby, put bumpers in the crib and/or give your toddler the Ipad during lunch.  You are doing what is best for you and your kids at that time and place.  Don’t ever let anyone else’s judgements make you think you are a bad mom.  Ever.  Professional or not, they are your kids and you know what is best for them and you. 

 6. I heard this the other day...”Having children is a stressor in a marriage.”  Why, yes...yes it is. And a huge “THANK YOU!!” to the person who had the courage to say it out loud.  Marriage is hard work and even harder after having kids.  Be prepared for this and the complete overhaul your relationship will go through.  No one ever talks about this.  THIS is what should be taught in a Prenatal class.  Am I right on this or what?

5.  It’s okay that you wear yoga pants and t-shirts every dang day.  Confession time...it’s April 3, 2015.  I haven’t worn anything EXCEPT yoga pants since November 28, 2014 at an early family Christmas celebration.  There.  I said it.  And it’s not just because I am finishing my yoga teacher certification, it’s because I LOVE THEM.

4. Tylenol can be your best friend.  That is all.

3.  Chances are, you will be a different person once you become a Mama.  I did and everything I once knew to be what I wanted for my life, didn’t exist anymore. It has taken me three years but I am finally feeling like a better version of the person I used to be.  So find your passion and follow your dreams because your kids will then become dreamers themselves. Wow...wouldn’t that be amazing?

2.  Set your alarm for one hour before your kids wake, if you can.  Time to yourself is the key to balancing this crazy job called motherhood.  Workout, catch up on emails, drink hot coffee, do yoga...whatever makes your heart happy.  Remember that your soul needs to be fed with love and nourishment that it can only get from YOU.  So please, give yourself this gift and your whole family will reap the benefits.  Oh, and then nap when your kiddos do in the afternoon, you’re going to need it because you were up so early!

1. Repeat after me.  “I have enough.  I do enough.  I am enough.”   My best friend sent this to me and it literally made my jaw drop because I find it so powerful.  When you are doubting yourself and needing reassurance, get it from YOURSELF by making this your mantra.  Repeat it over and over.  Because it is true, Mamas.  You got this and you are amazing!  Start seeing in yourself the Mama your kids see.  She is utterly fantastic!