Being Thankful...
Hi Jodie,
I have been meaning to email you for months now but never seem to get around to it, so I'm sitting down to email you tonight! I really wanted to say thank you so much. I saw you speak late last year at a breast cancer fundraiser in Bulimba and then months later read your book. I can't believe how much You Sexy Mother changed my whole view on my role as a mother.
Before having my daughter we were told that it would be very difficult for my husband andI to have a baby. Because of this I threw myself into work and really saw my identity as my job. Thankfully, we were able to have our amazing first little miracle, Nina who is about to turn 3. I decided to take a year off to stay at home with Nina and then further extended that for another year. I desperately missed work but couldn't bare the thought of leaving Nina and thankfully, we could afford for me not to work. I then became pregnant with our second little miracle, Claudia, who is about to turn 1 (their birthdays are on the same day), so I decided to resign from my position. This really proved difficult for me.
For so many years, I had seen the value of myself in work and then suddenly I didn't have that anymore. I really struggled with this loss of identity. Whenever anyone asked me what I did, I'd look at the floor and mumble under my breath "I'm at home with my kids" and then hold my head up and proudly tell them what I used to do before I had children. I had become one of those people I swore I would never be who went to playgroups and kindy gym etc. I was sort of in this no-mans land - I loved my girls and loved being with them but I felt like I should have been at work because that was "me"! Then I read your book!!!!
My whole outlook changed. How on earth were other people supposed to value what I did when I didn't value it myself?! Sure, I always knew it was the toughest job ever, so important blah blah... but I never valued it. Now I do. After readign YSM, I realised that this is THE most important thing I'm ever going to do in my life and I need to respect my role for that. My girls and my husband are the most fantastic things in my life and I'm so privileged to have this time to take care of them and just enjoy my years off to be at home with our girls. I now see it as my job, the most amazing, rewarding, challenging job I will ever have!
I have also started to look after me more. I joined the gym and have lost 17kgs. I have more energy, am fitter and healthier than ever in my life. I bounce out of bed every morning before the rest of the house wakes up, go to the gym and have my "me" time, then I'm ready to take on the day. Friends and family comment on how happy I look and they are so proud of the weight I've lost. Most of them can't believe it's me.
I have always hated exercise and now I hate it if I don't get to exercise in the day. I love that my girls see me fit and healthy, eating properly, exercising and setting a good example of a healthy lifestyle. I love that they see my husband and I happy. I really feel like I'm becomeing the mum I always wanted to be... fun, happy, playful and focused on my children while still being a good wife, friend, sister, daughter etc. I'm not saying that every day is roses, obviously with a toddler and a baby there are days when I'm watching the clock to see how long it is until my husband gets home but I feel with the extra energy and different attitude I can cope with these days a lot better.
And I never forget to "be thankful, even in the most difficult moments... knowing that hearing the words 'mummy' is a gift and not a given". Oh, and I always make sure I have fresh flowers in the house! Again, thank you so much, I really can't tell you how grateful I am to you for writing that book. It will be my new favourite baby shower pressie, every new mum needs one!
(Jade M - Mother of 2)