A Little Mother Lovin’ with Senita Athletics

Motherhood is hard. Really hard. It’s a battle of so many emotions all at once, and my stomach always feels so jumbled after an exhausting morning, chasing kids around, or trying to teach them how to behave kindly. Why is it so hard to be kind sometimes? Why is it so hard for someone to just not slam their sister’s fingers in a door? Why do they challenge everything I try to say? I’m burned out by lunch time when I sit down during their nap. My emotions have exhausted themselves. My head just kind of spins as I sit down and try to eat a few morsels…potentially their leftovers, because what toddler actually eats these days?

I thought I was really great at motherhood. I did. I look back at my young, wrinkle free self, and just laugh! I laugh at my ignorance and laugh at my bliss. Such sweet bliss! Having an easy first child is a rude awakening when your wild child is number two. It’s even a ruder awakening when that first easy child becomes the tough one to parent. I think I probably say that every week now, though, but there’s something therapeutic about saying it allowed or typing it…because I realize I’m not alone. We’re all trying to do the best we can. Loving our kids is the easiest most natural thing there is to do, and that’s why it drives our emotions all out of whack some days. We want them to realize how much we love them. We hate having to discipline them! We hate accidentally slipping up again and yelling at them. Who ever thought they were going to be the yelling mom? No? No one? I didn’t think so. No one wants to yell. Somehow, it just happens on the “bad” days. But we’re human. That’s what I’m learning. Those first few years are so physically draining that your whole brain may never be fully awake, right?! Not even 6 cups of coffee could stop that accidental yell most likely.

And I’m by no means condoning yelling as a way to parent, but yelling allows you the chance to show your kids that you’re human just like them. You can go to them and ask for their forgiveness. Explain to them why you’re sorry, and that you’ll try your best not to do it again. One time Hallen was in trouble, and I went to explain to her why she was in trouble, and she just looked at me and said, ” mommy…I’m doing yoga.” And how could I be mad at that anymore?!

She’s at the age where she’s picking up all my habits…good and bad. I’m glad she’s at least picked up on one good habit. Over the past month and a half, I finally started doing hot yoga regularly again. I tried so many times to do yoga while the girls were sleeping, but I always found other work to do around the house that’s “needed more.” It’s so hard to get back into a routine after a baby. It was easy with Hallen. I’d put her in the jogging stroller and just go, but with two schedules, it’s a little trickier. And my back started to hurt pushing the double BOB up all of our hills around our neighborhood. Yoga was just what I needed. But how would I do it? I needed more hours in the day…and childcare! I decided that the only way was to go into the earliest of early classes. My alarm clock now goes off at 4:30am three days a week. I do it for me. I do it for the girls.

When you become a mom, your identity shifts. You’re no longer just you. You’re in charge of molding a child into a responsible adult. That’s a heavy, albeit joyous, weight. And for that, you need to be confident of who you are. You need to love yourself. You need to appreciate who you’ve become. I’ve learned that, yet, I need to be selfless as a mother.  But part of being selfless is to make sure you’re loving on yourself as well. If you don’t know how to love and take care of yourself, how will your children learn that?

For me, that starts with putting on my leggings and tank from Senita Athletics early in the morning while the sun is still hidden and the girls are still dreaming.  I used to tell my husband back before kids that I trick my body into working out if I just get up early enough. My body and brain aren’t quite awake enough to know what’s going on!

But more than anything, I need my girls to see a mom who loves herself…even when she’s hot, sweaty, and hair sticking up in all the wrong places. I need my girls to see a mom who’s proud of who she’s become through all the struggles along the way.  I need them to know that really, going to yoga right now IS putting them first.  Because, when I get home, the house is still quiet. I’ve had my moment to sweat and my moment of zen.  I definitely feel more like I can take on the day after that.

And it all starts with the simple act of putting on some workout clothes that I can be proud of myself in! I’ve loved stepping into my Senita capris in the morning. They fit me really well, don’t ride down when doing all the downward dogs, forward folds, or standing poses. I love them, because they’re affordable for us mamas and they’re really well made. They are created by some awesome moms who wanted the best apparel out there, so that you can get in your zen time between chasing kids and (trying) to fold laundry or running to your next meeting.

So, I want to challenge you to create that special time for yourself. There are ways to find more hours in the day. You just have to get creative. Maybe it’s a quick walk around the neighborhood listening to your favorite podcast. Maybe it’s taking a 5am yoga class. Maybe it’s a quick run while your son is at soccer practice. Give yourself some mother lovin’. Put yourself first (which, remember is really putting them first) so you can give them the best you.