by Kate Frewerd

Created on: April 08, 2010

A beach full of hot cabana boys and a rum and coke in your hand! Loving life and feeling free from all the screams and chaos of motherhood. Ideal, yes… practical, no. For those mothers out there who have the money and time to take a leave of absence from motherhood, you are envied. For those of us left behind, we’ll hold down the fort like we have for years. Cleaning, driving, organizing, and no time for napping! Okay, maybe that’s a little harsh.

Motherhood is rewarding in and of itself. Mother’s love their children and the rewards range from watching them grow as a person, to the sometimes astonishingly crazy ideas that fall from their mouths. Aside from the obvious rewards of motherhood, most have learned that if we don’t take the time to enjoy it we will have missed it all together. Enjoying motherhood sometimes means taking a step back, looking at what you have created, and then taking a break. Sabbaticals, no matter how short, should be taken often; even if you are just going for a walk, pampering yourself, or having a night out with the ladies. Taking that time for yourself allows you to see the bigger picture, and helps you to appreciate the precious gifts in your life.

While escape is one way to enjoy motherhood, another is to get yourself and your children involved in something bigger than just your family. As a mother you feel like all you do is give, constantly, all day every day. Then you look at your kids and it seems like it’s always, “Mom, I want this.” Or “Mom, I need that.” Get your children involved in volunteering. Volunteering forces them to give too and shows children that life is not all about them. This doesn’t have to be a weekly event, once a month is doable, or maybe even once every 6 months. Volunteering within your community will become a family tradition that everyone will look forward to. Whether it be taking the family dog down to the senior home to visit the elderly, or making blankets for homeless children, whatever you do to contribute will take you all away from your hectic lives and make you feel amazing! You will enjoy motherhood even more knowing you are teaching your children to be selfless people. Giving and service to others is one of life’s biggest rewards. Give it a try and see how great it makes your children feel; you’ll see it is the ultimate way to enjoy motherhood.

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