While some moms love to spend time with their children, and adore their identity as a mother, others may often find themselves missing the life they once had, or feeling like they have lost a part of themselves. Regardless of which category you fall into, it can be healthy for a parent to have an identity outside of being a caregiver, for both the child and the parent.
Consider a New Career
It is understandable that you may want to take some time off after the birth or adoption of a child, but that doesn’t mean that you need to wave goodbye to your career. Instead, you may one day opt to return, or even look for a new career altogether. It could be a good idea to research the educational requirements for the path you want to go down, such as the types of occupational therapy degrees you could undertake, to allow yourself enough time to complete them prior to when you want to gain employment. Otherwise, you might also want to look into work experience placements while your child is at day-care, or with their other parent or family members, so that you can keep your resumé as fresh as possible.
Start a Hobby
You may find that a lot of time is devoted to looking after your children, tending to their needs, and keeping your home safe and hygienic. Even though these aspects are important, it can be good to also consider doing things for yourself. Starting a new hobby can be a good way for you to learn a new skill, find enjoyment, and even meet new people. Sometimes, it can be helpful to have friends outside of parenting groups, to allow you to simply be a woman, rather than always needing to wear the proverbial parenting hat. Even if money is tight, that shouldn’t prevent you from finding a hobby, because some enjoyable activities may be able to be done for free.
Do Something Spontaneous
Although you may need to have plans and routines when you are responsible for your child, it can be good to indulge in a few spontaneous actions when you don’t have to consider their needs. In doing so, you may be able to rediscover the things that you like and dislike, as well as your aspirations for the future. Spontaneous acts don’t need to involve impromptu trips abroad or dangerous feats. Instead, it could involve spur of the moment decisions to join a class, dance in the rain, or even try to make new friends. Adding a bit of excitement back into your life may also help you with your mental wellbeing.
Being a parent can involve a lot of self-sacrifice, however you do still need time to be yourself. By contemplating some of the ways you can inject a little bit of personal identity back into your life, you may have more enjoyment both in regards to parenting, and when you are not with your child.
Photo by Jimmy Dean on Unsplash
