Wabe: Mommy Magic

WHEN babies arrive, it is not unusual for mothers to find their once robust social lives reduced to zero. It is just so much harder to slip away for girl bonding when babies demand so much attention.

As Italian actress Sophia Loren once said: “When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.” It goes without saying that the wee-ones become the priority. Kids grow up so fast; and time is a thief that waits for no one.

That being said, being busy with baby can also be draining. It is even harder and even more isolating when you’re the only mom amongst a group of friends who is going through the baby stage. Everyone else can go out when they feel like it while the kids are in school; whereas, you are subject to the moods and whims of your human “ball-and-chain,” especially if you cannot find a good yaya. It is totally normal to feel left-out of the loop while you’re busy growing your little one.

However, no matter how much anyone loves their kids and enjoys the motherhood journey, it cannot be all about breast milk, diapers, drool, and poop. Moms need to retain a little bit of time for themselves to keep their sanity. No one can function to their full-potential if they aren’t able to fully recharge. Remember this: before a woman becomes a mom, she is first an individual. There will be no we (the family) without me (the mom). Self-care is important because no one can pour from an empty cup.

Thus, it is quite vital to nurture relationships outside of family. Friendships, like any other relationship, need the investment of communication and time. When you become so busy with baby, some friends may feel kind of distant or beyond reach. However, a good friend is always just a text or phone call away. She readily understands why you're not always free to get away, and she knows true friendship doesn’t always need daily conversation to withstand the test of time.

Eventually, you will be able to take a break from routine. And it will be extra sweet! Free time feels even more valuable now with the added demands of motherhood. When you finally get the chance to spend it with the girls who make time for you, you learn to appreciate these friends even more because they have patiently waited and stuck it out with you. Friends may come and go but the true ones stay like the wrinkles on our face as we all grow old together.

On top of that, they celebrate the milestones of your baby because they understand, having been in your shoes before, too. So last weekend, my zumba mommy friends and I were in that exact position. It may have been baby Hezekiah Paul’s 1st birthday celebration and dedication, but we would also like to see it as the day wherein we celebrate all the sacrifices of his ever devoted and faithful mommy, our zumba sister, Vel.

Vel used to be very active in our zumba family, but she had to take a break when she became pregnant and raised Heze, her youngest and only son. She is a reminder to us moms of how all of us once had to battle the daily rigors of infant/toddler motherhood. It sure ain’t easy, but it is always worth it for the love of the little humans we have set loose on this planet.

Thank you dear birthday boy, Heze, for your sweet innocent smile. Time may seem long with baby cries, dirty diapers, and tantrums, but the years are indeed short, fast, and ever so fleeting. So to us moms, forget flying and invisibility; being a mom has always been our super power...and it becomes even stronger when we band together.

Where there is a mommy, there is magic. Cheers to motherhood and mommy friends! As Maria Shriver, ex-wife of Arnold Schwarzenegger, declares: “Having kids—the responsibility of rearing good, kind, ethical, responsible human beings—is the biggest job anyone can embark on.”

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph