I want to highlight a few things. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, things on social media can look grande and be filled with so much smoke screen. Yes that is how life rolls. However keep in mind that everyone tries to put their best foot forward. This is why the age of filters is so amazing. You get to hide behind real life scars and traumas.
The pic used in this blog if I uncovered it was great. We were having the best ice-cream at one of my favorite spots. Everyone is all smiling and seemingly happy. We look like the model family. If I told you that I could still feel the pain of that day, would you believe me? That was a hard day. It was a few years ago and we were set to go to the African-American museum. We were ready to go and our plans got diverted. Why they got diverted I won’t speak on but I will speak to the nuggets that can be learned from that picture.
In it you see my husband all smiles. He was under extreme amounts of stress trying to do the best he can. I was depressed and I believe if I had gone back to work it was short-lived due to the fact that my youngest was nursing and wouldn’t take to a bottle and I had to take her to work with me. That worked for a while until it was time to put her in daycare and then I had to stop working again because again she wouldn’t take to anyone but me and still no bottle, no cup, just me.
Here is what I know now AFTER that storm of life and what I wish someone had told me:
Dear Toi,
You are stressed out but a lot of your stress is coming from within. You haven’t quite found your space, your voice, or what you want. Maybe its the feelings of not quite making your mark in this world. Maybe its the time that you had to take off due to taking care of your kids and the guilt that you feel losing the independence of a working woman. You are fighting those around you but reality is the fight is in you. Use that negative energy not to worry about what others will think, but to know what you want. Should you leave your husband because it was so rocky? No! Leaving isn’t the answer. The answer isn’t in your husband. He will never make you happy. Happy wife, happy life is a bunch of bologna. You have to be a happy person, and work from that happiness. You will have many more moments when you are ready to throw the towel in. Don’t stay for the sake of the kids. They can’t heal you. How about you deal with some of the let downs you face. Get out and get a hobby. Get out and get some fresh air. Know that as a mom you are at your best when you take some time to practice self-care. The kids will thrive better with you even if you had to walk alone. Take a mental time out. Take a deep breath. Do your hair, get dressed, put on a little make up because its going to be okay. You don’t have to look a mess while you figure out your messed up life. Your life is blessed you just have to use this time to rebuild. Don’t worry down the line you figure it out. Down the line you don’t have to wait for your husband to go with you all the time. If you like it go do it on your own. It doesn’t make you less married to do a few things on your own. He isn’t and never was your source for everything stop giving him that power. He didn’t ask for it. He was attracted to your hustle and your ability to keep it moving. He saw that hunger in you, you got this!
Sincerely a stronger Toi
Lesson one: Happiness is YOUR job. Not of your spouse or anything that you own. Happy people don’t have it all they just know how to keep moving and make the best of their situations.
Lesson two: self-care is a daily thing. It is not okay to have meltdowns if you’re not going to use the meltdowns to get better. What have you done today that made you feel amazing? You should be doing all you can to make it feel like its your birthday everyday. No one will celebrate you like you.
Lesson three: Marriage is beautiful when you put in work and your spouse does the same. When that stops the marriage will have a pit stop. You aren’t responsible for him/her you can only do what you want him/her to do. Don’t say that because you have done one thing, this is in ALL areas. No one can receive as much love and listening as you claim you give and treat that person badly. Remember they need from you what THEY need not what you THINK THEY NEED!
Lesson four: dress up everyday. I don’t mean you have to be in heels, but if you want to knock the sloppy look, you have to get up and get dress and be present. Every time you zone out and don’t care you look it. Don’t be mad at another woman who shows up and shows out. You both were supposed to. Don’t say you don’t have the time or money. Admit you didn’t take the time! You can look fierce on any budget. You can look fierce in pajamas if you want to.
Lesson five: get the hell out. You can not live your best life cooped up in the house. Get you a few dollars and go to a bookstore and have a ball, find some Groupons and live! Do more action than talking. No one cares that you talk about a dream, the doers are finding ways to make the dreams a reality.
Lesson six: for my moms, there is no such thing as a perfect mom. You don’t have to mirror everything you were taught. You are in control of what you want motherhood to be. Even if you grew up in the worst conditions, the dreams you wanted your childhood to be can be made with your own kids. Be solid for yourself and them not perfect. Dance around the kitchen while making dinner. Make folding into a game. Be there for your kids and most importantly be there for yourself! They are watching you!
Lesson seven: be okay to lose. Take a chance on life and yourself. If you fail it won’t be in not making the mark, it will be in not taking the chance to make the mark.
