I have lost my joy since becoming a mother. I know I am knee-deep in the hardest season of parenting, with two kids under five, but I realize more and more each day that I need to find joy outside of my children and start doing things for myself. I am not sure how to find joy anymore. So I will start making myself do things I have liked in the past and see if I still like them. I assume, along with the shape of my belly, that my opinions on different things have changed.
I am starting today alone in the office writing this article. I don’t know if the universe is giving me the gift of this time or if my husband is keeping my four-year-old away, but getting some alone time with my thoughts is nice. We as a family have a lot on our plate, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t time for me to be just Jackie.
I feel like “Mom me” has suffered because I haven’t recharged my battery. I want to blame my husband or my kids, but I know that I have to be in charge of my happiness. My kids can bring me joy, but if I don’t remember what joy looked like to me five years ago, how can I ever teach my kids to find their joy?
Does anyone else have suggestions or thoughts on finding your joy as a mom? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
