Broaden Your Shoulders Mamas

By: Tanya Elliott

Ugh. Double ugh. Triple ugh. I. Just. Can't. I look at the mounds of laundry and dusty ceiling fans and poop filled diapers and dirty dishes and grubby hands and bills and budgets and kindergarten registration papers...

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I feel overwhelmed.

I promised myself that today I would match my body weight in ounces of water consumed. I have consumed 2 XL coffees (Damn you Facebook article that I read at 3am when I couldn't sleep!)

I promised myself to cut carbs to lose 50 pounds in 7 days (because those results are clearly realistic!?!) as I stuff my child's left over toast crust down my gullet as I run out the door.

Every day, chores are there, kids are there, the mess is there...and anxiety is there.

I can't help but feel, that on this hamster wheel of life--life as a mom, full time teacher, wife, sister, daughter, friend...what more can I possibly do?

Those moments when I am misunderstood, when my best intentions are thrown in my face and I feel completely and utterly at the mercy of others--what more can I do?

Well. There is always more. But the difference is that sometimes the "more" can be...needs to be...just for me.

I can breathe. I can take a bath. I can listen to my anti-anxiety play list (yes I have one of those). I can talk to the people that make me feel really good. I can ignore the ones that don't for a couple days. I can delete the FB app. I can take my meds. I can eat a healthy meal. Or have that piece of cake unapologetically. I can rest. I can exercise. I can just be.

The point is mamas, sometimes you are going to feel like an anxiety ridden basket case. People are going to treat you like shit because *news flash* people are jerks. But the good news is...you can broaden your shoulders and give that extra space to...you.

I am a really, really, good mom. And friend. And woman. I love myself and I owe it to myself and every single person I allow in my circle to broaden my shoulders and slice a big piece of kindness pie for myself, and so do you ❤️