What Not to Wear – The Mommy Edition

I think part of the appeal of a show like “What Not to Wear” is that we all can relate just a little to the people on this show.  Be honest.  If I secretly videotaped you walking around town this week,  what would I have seen?  Is it something you would want millions of people on national TV to witness? My answer to that question is a resounding, “NO!”   I will give myself some credit though.   I’ve grown in the way I carry myself.  During the years when I was home all day with two children under the age of 2, what you would have seen would be down right frightening.  Besides the outward appearance of spit up stains, wrinkled clothes and frizzy hair (which we all know is not the most important part anyway), there was the part of me inside that was screaming for Calgon to take me away.  I had this vision in my mind that I would be absolutely content and fulfilled with being home full time with no work other than the care of my family.  But you know what, that was not my reality.  My husband was actually the one who pointed it out.  He could tell I was frustrated with no outlets to express myself.  Through many discussions over the years, I’ve realized I need both. I need to essentially have my cake and eat it too.  I need work to do outside of caring for my family.

Back to the example I started with,  I have a question for you.  What are you wearing around in your daily life as a mom?  I’ve been on an adventure this year with many ups and downs as I pursue my dream of being an entrepreneur, while also fulfilling my dream of having the flexibility of being home when my children are home.   For most of this year I’ve worn a perfectionist mindset.  A perfectionist attitude reveals itself in various ways – for me it means I will read, study and research  a topic to an extreme.  I gather, gather, gather and gather some more information on it, because I don’t want to make a mistake.

There is so much I have to learn about what it means to be an mompreneur.  I thought I could read enough books, attend enough seminars, watch enough videos or listen to enough podcasts on the subject to get it all right the first time.  (What’s sooo funny?  Who are you laughing at?)  Well, as I’m sure you know, life doesn’t work like that.    Experience has been one of the best teachers I could have, because she’s taught me that reading about AIN’T quite the same as living it.

Here are a few other things I’ve learned:

“Doing both” (you know that cutesy thing I call my motto) is far more challenging than I imagined.  Who’s bright idea was it that I give birth to a baby and start a business around the same time? Oh yeah, it was mine.  Why didn’t someone warn me? Oh yeah, they did.

Once you have your BIG idea and you start committing the time, money and energy to it,  people expect you to be consistent.  Did I share that consistency is not always where I shine?   I’m working on it.  I soooo want to finish what I start which is why I’ve started back blogging today.

I have to give myself a break.  I put more pressure on myself than anyone else does.  If I’m going to be the Good Life Diva I aspire to be, I’m going to have to learn to enjoy whatever season I’m in with this business while preparing for the next season.

What have I been up to since I last posted?

I really enjoy the potential that the internet offers moms.  I’ve been experimenting with different avenues to see what works best for me.  I’m still applying all the principles I teach others beginning withfinding work that is connected to your passions, gifts and talents (your calling).   I’ll be blogging about my adventures and the things I’m learning from other stay-at-home moms, mompreneurs and bloggers about creating work you love from home that provides an income (aka home business), saving money, raising a family and growing in our relationship with God.

I promise to be honest with you.  I will not paint the appearance of having-it-all-together, because I don’t and neither do you.   For those who do (have it all together), please teach the rest of us.

Let’s get the ball rolling….

Please, leave me a comment about your experience of being a mom who does both – doing work you love while raising a family.    What have you been wearing this year that you’ve realized you need to pack up and put away?