Parental VS the Kid... ( check point)...

A little over a month ago, I celebrated my 36th Bday. One month to the date later, my daughter turned 11 and next month my son will turn 4. We're just busy celebrating birthdays over here. 

Now that my daughter is 11, the conversations we have are more in depth. I've never been one to hide anything from her but I've shielded parts of my life from here. Why? Because outside of being their mommy, Cheneka exists. You know, the person I was before Motherhood. Motherhood has consumed so much of my life that I literally had to take a step back and find ME. 

Slowly but surely I've started to and it feels absolutely GREAT. I blog more, get my hair done every week( the compliments I get on my hair alone make me feel like a million bucks) I make time for friends, I started back working out and I'm just all Round happier. 

Trust me, the process wasn't easy. Almost 2 years ago we went thru a huge transition in our household. My kids went from a 2 parent home, to a home solely ran by me. While I never skipped a beat and I kept the outside appearance together, inside was a battle. The typical Whys, Hows, tears and frustrations overtook me. My kids never saw me sweat, never saw me cry. I did yell every now and again( all parents do) but I never exploded. 

I took a lot of time for me ( or so I thought). I became overly involved with my kids and my business so that I did not have to face what was going on inwardly. 

And one day I woke up. Although it's the three of us, I'm still me. I'm still young and above all I'mm&ms absolutely beautiful. 

Today my lovies, I challenge ALL of my single parents to do something for you. Meet new people, get a hair cut, change your hair color, workout.. Wait.... Those are all things that I've done ( or am doing) and it feels great. 

We have the power in us to be happy and move on but we 1st have to be in a good space to do so. While our children will want us to themselves, we still have to find ways to be ourself. We all existed before parenthood and we will surely exist once our nesting years are over. 

I love my kids with everything in me BUT I'm learning to love me a little more. In doing so, it makes me stronger! 

Signed, 

Stronger, Wiser and Winning!!