May I?

There are too many times that moms miss out on doing things for themselves because they are waiting for someone to give them permission. Permission to do the thing, permission to just be themselves. So many women have dreams and goals before they become mothers, but sometimes those are put on the backburner once they have children and forever live in the past filed under “Once upon a time.”

Once the child rearing begins, the piles of excuses also begin. We make excuses for why we can’t do the things; whether it’s schedules, kids, work, you name it; it starts to become our narrative. Every now and then, that little voice will check in and ask if we still want to do the things, and we are so quick to quiet it because how could we? We are SO many different someone’s to everyone, and we just would never have time. When the kids are school age, when the kids get a little bit older, when the kids move out, and then as life every so often does, it happens and derails our plans again.

That voice never actually goes away. There will be months and maybe years of silence, but something will make your dreams resurface, and it will catch you off guard; maybe even make you a little angry.

Mamas, I am here to tell you that you don’t need permission to dig up those treasure chests that are filled with your old dreams and goals. Dust them off and get to work! Of course, the path to get to the finish line will look different, and you’ll need to schedule, reschedule again and again, prioritize, and re-prioritize again and again, but you’re worth it.