My 1st Blog Contribution for Mother Manifesto

five Ways to Find Me Time During the Daily Chaos


So Proud to share my 1st blog contribution for Mother Manifesto a fabulous mom community that I am proud to be a part of.

Be Thankful!

During this time of year it is always easy to just get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays but it is important to remember what the holidays are really about. So as Thanksgiving comes upon us I would like to remind everyone that it isn't about the food or the football. It is about family, friends and cherishing the time we get to spend with the ones we love and remembering the ones we lost.

The holidays have always been hard for me for the past 8 years, as I lost some people that were so dear to me that even after this long it still cuts me to the core to not be able to spend my holidays with them. However, after years of trying to come to terms with this loss I have learned that I have to cherish the times we had and remember that although they may not be here physically they are always with me spiritually. It wasn't until I had my son that I truly was able to embrace the holidays again after losing the ones I loved. Now I try to give my son the same memories and appreciation for the holidays that they instilled in me. That is what it is all about. Passing on traditions and creating more memories to cherish. So this thanksgiving, I am most thankful for my son and being able to be the best mother I can be and give him the best life possible. All the hard-work I put in, is for him, so that we he looks back on his life he can have some wonderful memories to cherish of how much he was loved and cared for.

So this Thanksgiving, cherish the ones you love, remember the ones you lost and enjoy the memories you are able to create.  Be grateful for all that you have and be thankful for all that is to come.

From my family to yours I want to wish everyone a very happy, healthy and safe Thanksgiving.

If You Don't Set Boundaries, Who Will??

All to often we forget to set boundaries for those around us. However, if we don't set them who will?Without these boundaries we let people assume that they can treat you however they want, which leads to you allowing others to hurt you. So it is important to set boundaries on what you will and will not tolerate and enforce these by not allowing others to go past your boundaries.

My entire childhood and now adult life I have watched as someone very dear to me has allowed not setting boundaries to deplete their self worth and let them live in fear each day. That is no way to live but given that they have allowed this to go on for so long, that is all they know. This is why as a young woman I always told myself that I would never allow myself to feel that way. That I would always make sure I got the respect I deserved and would uphold my self-worth. Watching first hand how damaging it can be to let someone hurt you emotionally, mentally and physically, I never wanted to feel that way.

With that said, I just want to send out the message that only you can set the boundaries of how you are treated by others. So be firm, be strong and know that you are worth the respect and love you deserve. We all are!!

How Becoming a Mom Changed Me!!!!

No one ever tells you how much your life will change once becoming a mom. I mean it is crazy to think how different my life was before becoming a mom. Not just in what I did but in who I was as a person. Before being a mom, I was very brash and selfish. I lived my life on a whim of doing whatever I wanted without any regard for anyone feelings or thoughts.  I felt alone and empty with a void that could not quite be filled. Boy how all that changed once I held my beautiful little boy in my hands. 

It wasn't until I held my son in my arms and looked into his eyes that I truly understood what love was. At that moment nothing else mattered and from that point on he would always come before me. I never thought that I would feel that way but lord was I wrong.  Crazy how in that instant my whole perspective on life changed. Life wasn't about my wants or needs anymore, but about how I can give this little human being the best chance to achieve greatness and feel loved. You see once I had a child I wanted to be able to do all the things I felt I didn't have as a child growing up. 

Now, although I want to be able to give my son everything and do everything perfectly, as I have grown into my motherhood role, I have realized that nothing is perfect and we have to learn to let go of certain things and just wing it. I mean when my son 1st came I literally drove myself crazy and ragged trying to do everything perfect and be this perfect version of what I thought was a mom. Yet, what I was aiming for was not possible. It left me feeling drained and unable to be the best version of myself.  Now with that said, I try everyday to be the best mom I can be but also find a balance between being a mom and still finding time for me. 

I had to learn that not only am I a mom now but I am still me. I still have needs and wants. So without filling my cup back up, I am not able to fill others cups and be the person I want and need to be. So in becoming a mom it has changed me not just physically and emotionally but also mentally and spiritually. This will continue to evolve as my son grows and I also grow as a person, but I truly am so thankful for my son.  Before him I never wanted kids and was fearful of not being able to be the mom I wanted to be, but now I know that he was brought into my life for a reason.  He truly did open my heart back up from a cold dark place and truly gave me a purpose that I never thought possible. 

So in ending my 1st blog post in such a long time, I want to say thank you for taking the time to read this and share in my journey. Also, that for everyone out there searching for something, it will come when the time is right. Believe that there is a higher power guiding you in your path.  Know that we all evolve and change and with embracing these changes we become a better version of ourselves.  

Faith. Hope. Love.