It Takes a Village
When I first had children, I wanted to do everything myself!
First of all, I was so happy to finally have children. I had worked with children from when I was babysitting age, and I knew I loved them. Now I had my own. I enthusiastically embraced the responsibility. I wanted my children to get top quality care and I trusted myself, (and only myself), to give it the way I wanted it done.
I was afraid that if I let someone else take care of something, the kids would not get as much sleep, they may not be as clean, they might not have their hunger cues responded to right away, or they may be uncomfortable in some way shape or form, because someone else may not be paying attention the way that I would.
Over time, the list of things that I wanted to have done became so high and I was up at night nursing with the second, and then the third, so depending on what stage of motherhood I was in I was not as adept at making lists as I was before my first was born… it became imperative to rely on my village to team up and help me raise my kids.
At first they had a learning curve but with more chance to practice, I began to feel comfortable letting others in. I began to get used to sacrificing doing things exactly my way so as to get the benefit of more love let in, more adaptability, and less depleted energy from any one person.
It truly takes a village to raise a child. I’m thankful for the village that I have raising my three children right now. Letting go and allowing certain risks to come into play also happens when they are older! Their first trip to the movies, or even my mother who worries when I visit a friend a 5 hour bus ride away and have to walk to her hotel from the stop on my own in the city.
We worry because we care, and I’m glad that I have someone who worries about me. I worry about my children, and yet, I know that I also need to BALANCE that with the freedom to let go and allow them to grow into the young women and men they are meant to become, not oversheltered, neither over reckless – still guided and loved, with freedom and safety built in.
The theme of doing everything yourself applies to business too, by the way. How many moms are also starting businesses? Delegation and collaboration is certainly a thing in taking care of clients. Who complements you, and who can you team up with to make an even bigger difference than all on your own?
I’m hosting a FREE 3-days masterclass mid-December called MOMPRENEUR MASTERY: Finding Balance and Building Dreams. Click here to register, it would be great to see you there!
