Accepting My Limitations

The Most important priorities in my life are, and always will be God, my husband and my children. However, it seems at times that the world in which we live, pushes the notion that I should be all things to everyone.


It took me awhile to realize that it is impossible for me to be all things to everyone. Society, told me that I should have a successful career, be a great wife, a wonderful mother, active in my church, volunteer time in my community, be socially popular and fit into a size 7 pair of jeans.


Well, I only have 24 hours in a day and I require some sleep, so I just couldn't be everything to everyone. And I was stressing out trying to be all those things, and felt like a failure that I was only moderately successful (in my opinion) at juggling all those thing. I know some people might disagree and say that I was doing great, but I just wasn't happy getting pulled in so many directions. And being adequate at a lot of things isn't acceptable for my standards. I wanted to be great at the things most important to me, and it just wasn't happening.


So I prioritized my life and made some changes. Now that I have realized that in order for me to be happy and flourish I cannot be everything to everyone. I need to be true to my faith to God, the love for my husband and be the best mom I can be. For me to flourish I chose to change careers and become a stay at home mom. 


I love that I had the choice to be a stay at home mom. Just like I'm grateful that many of my friends have the choice to be working mothers. I wasn't happy as a working mom, but that  doesn't mean that other women aren't happy being working moms. But, I found that I wasn't happy in that role.


It took me awhile to accept that limitation for myself. But, I believe I have done this realizing what is important to me and trying to be the most wonderful wife and mother I can be, and in my case that was by choosing to be a stay at home mother.


I also don't worry about being the most popular mom,with an itinerary full of lunch and coffee dates. I love having friends, but I don't have the time to be a social butterfly. I'm happy with my small circle of great friends. 


The quest to be a size 7 is not my priority, although it is a long term goal. So I try to eat right and I make an effort to do 15 minutes of exercise a day, I'm working on it. 


I love volunteering, however it is time consuming and as a mommy of 2 small children I don't have a lot of time. So I still volunteer and help in the community when I can, but I have cut back on it and I've learned to say no. So now I do things like bringing food to a friend in need or volunteering at a local school.


Since accepting my limitations and prioritizing my life, I am much happier. And in return my family's faith has grown by leap and bounds, my husband is happier and so are my children.