Madrehood

Sometimes you have those weeks where you seem to be going somewhere and the road you're on has a detour after detour road sign.  Maybe you feel like the saying, when it rains it pours, or you feel like you're going "de mal enpeor." (from bad to worse).  How do you get from the madness or darkness to the light?  Here's my story...

Oh, Valentine's Day, El Dia de Los Enamorados as we Latinos call it.  An event to celebrate your love and affection, your union to your loved one, and all that blah blah blah.  Do you know what I really want?...

 

First let me start by saying, I’m not rich.  I’m Janny, a just turned 40 year old mom to a 3 year old, wife, working 2 jobs, paying bills, mustering enough energy to cook, clean, and get everything done—Not perfect, but done.  Sound familiar? I dream of one day acquiring enough wealth to not have to worry about bills.  I’m sure that sounds familiar too.  However, the fact that I’m not rich (yet) has not stopped me from giving myself a gift to treasure for a lifetime and here’s why you should do the same.

We're in the middle of summer and it has been hot, full of swimming lessons, outdoor play, baseball games, and family fun.  My daughter will be attending a new preschool in September and I asked my sister, 20 year experienced preschool teacher, Dasy Perez how I could help my daughter get ready for school after a fun filled summer?  Here are her suggestions:

Having a child will change your life.  I know, everybody says that, but until you actually have a child you don't fully understand what that means.  Whether you have a child in your 20's or 30's doesn't matter, because they will bring you such joy.  However, there are things that are definitely easier to do when you don't have kids and there are things that you will benefit from, if you do them early enough.  Here's my top list of things to do, most of which I did and some I wish I had done like #9.

I remember having conversations with my older sister Dasy when we were kids. She always dreamed of being a mom I, on the other hand, always dreamed of having a career and traveling the world, children were never part of that picture.  When I gave birth to my daughter my world changed and I lost...

We as mamás always tend to put everyone else first and leave ourselves last.  We may not hesitate to spend $50 easily on someone we love but we may think twice about spending that on ourselves.  I think it's built into the mamá DNA, the always giving giving giving, but what about us?

When your life is turned upside down, how can you deal and manage the stress, especially when you have a young child or children at home?  Our lives have changed and learning to navigate this new norm is challenging.

"Mami, are you happy?" Victoria asks.  I tell her, "Yes, mama, I'm so happy.  These are Happy tears because I have my family, you, a roof over my head, food, clothes, water, my health...I am rich."