The joy of motherhood | Family Times

Much is said about the challenges and stress of parenthood. However, there is little emphasis placed on the joy of being a mother, celebrating who you are as a woman and including fun in our daily lives.

In an abridged excerpt from her book How to Keep the YOU in Mum, author Karyn Riley highlights the importance of acknowledging joy and gratitude and celebrating the small stuff, too.

?Whether you?re a mother, sister, daughter or friend you are you first and foremost ? a unique, individual, wonderful woman and person. Becoming a mother is an amazing, incredible experience and taking on the role of parent in addition to our many other roles, responsibilities and demands is something we need to acknowledge, celebrate and congratulate ourselves on.

?Yet all too often women don?t celebrate their achievements enough, whether it?s securing a well-paid job, staying home to raise a family, overcoming adversity or simply getting through a difficult day.

Gratitude
?Whether celebrating something big or small, it?s important to create time and space to reflect on and celebrate you, your family, and your life as it is right now. Write down, acknowledge and think about what you?re grateful for, becoming consciously aware of the positive aspects of daily life.

Attitude and action
?Your attitude is everything. Having a positive outlook on life not only makes a good day great, it can help you get through any difficult or challenging times. Even if you can?t immediately see anything positive from a situation or event, try to consider what you?ve learnt to apply or do differently in future. Simply deciding to let go of something rather than bearing a grudge or carrying emotional baggage allows you closure and the ability to move forward in life.

?A positive attitude and action helps build up your confidence, self-belief and ability to cope with life?s many challenges. Each day decide to take one small step, make one simple change or do one thing differently that will bring you closer to who and where you want to be in life. Apply a simple, step-by-step strategy to accomplish your goals and aspirations. Take action daily, persevere and keep the end in mind ? you will achieve more by focusing on less.

Have fun
?Sometimes the burden of responsibility and seemingly never-ending demands of parenting means there is little time or energy left for fun. However, kids young and old need to have fun. As parenting author Nigel Latta says: ?Fun is the glue that holds families together.?

?When was the last time you had fun? Consider simple ways to include fun in your daily life and celebrate the small stuff, such as ?me? time, catching up with friends, spending special time with your children (together and separately), partner and loved ones, and creating family traditions. Brainstorm ideas for ?fun-spiration? and keep them handy for everyday use.

The benefits of celebrating
?Celebrating ourselves and our successes (whether big or small) is often overlooked or put off due to our busy, demanding, sometimes stressful lives. Celebrating who you are and acknowledging the positive keeps you focused on the present, while motivating you towards future success in life.

?Celebrating allows you to simply enjoy the moment and see the ?big picture?; your overall vision for life. It can also help minimise stress and feeling overwhelmed by focusing on what you?ve achieved, rather than beating yourself up with negative self-talk or striving for unattainable ?perfection?.

?Celebrating is good for us: it improves our overall health and well-being, encourages self-acceptance and self-love, and helps us live and enjoy a well-balanced life.?

By Karyn Riley
How to Keep the YOU in Mum is available from www.rileylife.co.nz and all New Zealand bookstores.

Source: http://www.familytimes.co.nz/the-joy-of-motherhood/

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