Tag: Sense of Self

Me Time

I’ve been staring at my old running shoes for a few months now, but I must confess:  they were being mean to me ok? They were  making fun of me.  They said things like “You don’t have time to run” and “Keep sleeping lazy lady” and stuff like that.  Can you believe it?

Then, they laughed even harder when my husband would put them on to walk around town and run errands.  “Hahaha,” they said. “See if you’ll ever wear us again.”

me-time

You see, I had intentions of setting them straight and putting them on and heading out for a jog – even a 15 minute one, but I let them get the best of me.

I kept excusing myself every time my 1 year old would have a cold or a rough night, thinking, tomorrow morning I’ll go for a run.  I even tried skipping an afternoon shower thinking that it would give me incentive to run, and then shower the next morning.  I got a little grubby for a day or two, but never made it out.

But, I have news for you.  I’ve kicked those running shoes into submission and last week I took them out for a short run.  And then I did it again this morning.

And you know what?

It’s true what they say about taking a little bit of time for yourself and exercising.  It puts you in a better mood than a huge bar of dark chocolate.  Ok, maybe it only rivals that, but it’s pretty stinking good.

So, if you want to improve your mood, and through that your parenting, and your productivity too…and it just improves everything really…then take time for you.  I encourage every parent to carve out this golden time.

I call it my “me time.”

It restores my sense of self as a person apart from my titles of mother and wife. There’s no one tugging at me or asking for anything.  I’m not working, and I’m not cooking. I’m just doing something I enjoy. Even 30 minutes a few mornings a week is enough to make a difference.  It might take a bit for you to get going – but once you do, you’ll have started something you won’t want to stop.  I know I don’t.

 

 

Yo No Soy Una Piñata

This is the excerpt for a placeholder post. It can be deleted or edited to make it your own.

by Rachel Peachey

If there’s one thing that’s true about raising bilingual kids, it’s that there’s never a dull moment.  We recently spent some time with my parents in the USA.  My 3 year old son (we’ll call him peanut) who has been mainly a Spanish speaker and English understand-er has transformed himself into a full on little translating machine.  There have been many fun, exciting moments since he was fully immersed in an English environment.  And this one is by far my favorite:

Peanut: I want burbujas

Grandpa: Burbujas?

Peanut: Bubbles.  Spanish.

Grandpa: Wow?! What’s going on in that head of yours, do you have a computer in there?

Peanut: (confused) No.

Mom: Hahaha.  What do you have in your head then?  Do you have candy in there?

Peanut: No soy una piñata! (I’m not a piñata)

I am what I am

What a joke for a 3 year old!  Yet there is some wisdom here too.  Have you ever felt that others are defining you?  It’s something most people struggle with in their adolescence and early-twenties and oh let’s be realistic – it happens throughout life. When this happens, how nice it is to know who you are and what you are with little to no wavering.  Although who you are may change and transform over time, it’s wonderful to be able to say emphatically “No soy una piñata!”

Here’s to hoping this ability lasts for my little peanut!

Photo Credit: Piñata through Photopin: License