Hey, the photo I posted yesterday popped up over at Mamazine this morning. How cool is that? Yes, of course they asked permission to post it and I was thrilled to share.
I love what Sheri shares in her post. What are your thoughts on the subject of finding your freedom? Have you experienced any of these conflicting feelings? Her line about feeling guilty for the happy resonated with me. Not because I feel guitly for the time or the happy but I discussed this with a friend just yesterday--Without the struggle of the juggle, without the angst of feeling pressed for time or anything else for that matter, who are we? As mothers? As women? Have we gotten so attached to all that baggage that we actually do feel guilty for taking a moment? For feeling peace? For the happy?
I think this is a very important subject to ruminate on. Let's discuss, shall we?
I think it's a shame that we don't enjoy our freedom more without the guilt. But as moms, that seems to be our cross to bear. It's hard to feel truly free when there are others who depend on us for so many things. Like Melody's wonderful post yesterday, her lack of freedom lies in the fact that someone she loves struggles to be free. However, without the struggles, daily grind and stress how can we truly enjoy what it means to be free. No one truly appreciates freedom like one who truly knows what it is to be imprisoned. So while in our noble pursuits of the bondage of motherhood, we absolutely need to cherish and absorb into our existence any and every moment of freedom - guilt free!
Posted by: Kelly Bera | 09/21/2007 at 11:26 AM
Thanks for that input Kelly. Well said.
Posted by: tracey | 09/21/2007 at 12:14 PM
i agree & i definitely feel that dads tend not to feel that same sense of guilt (at least not to the same extent) that mothers do. my husband feels no guilt watching football games on a saturday afternoon...i feel like i should be doing something productive. do i not deserve the same freedoms? of course, but it's often harder for mothers to enjoy them in the same way.
Posted by: megan | 09/21/2007 at 02:51 PM
I guess I feel "guilty" calling it freedom. I think it has a negative connotation (to me) to call it "freedom" from your kids or husband, as if you're in bondage to them. I guess I'd rather call it taking time to myself (than freedom). I know I need some time alone, especially since we homeschool and I'm pretty much with my kids 24/7. I'm especially feeling it this weekend with hubby being gone for the weekend. I rarely take time for myself, and yet I know I need it to be a better wife, a better mom. I'm glad you brought this up, as I don't do it enough, and will make the effort.
Posted by: Mandy | 09/23/2007 at 10:25 AM
I rarely take time for myself anymore, who has the time? But when I do, I always, always feel guilty for it. Sometimes so guilty that I have a hard time enjoying that time or so much so that my daughter even feels it and acts strangely all day. It's always a hassle to find that free time to. The preparation, finding a babysitter, or arranging a time where my husband can watch her that isn't within our scheduled family time or couple time, etc... is always such a pain that sometimes it sucks the joy out of the short amount of free time I do get.
Posted by: Jazzy | 09/23/2007 at 02:24 PM