For those of you who know me I have spent my entire life
working, volunteering, and taking care of other people; often at the expense of
myself. This past year I have been a little in my feelings because for
the first time in my life it is a choice that I make willingly, but is
unending. I am speaking of being a mother. At this season in our
life I rarely go anywhere or do anything without my Elise and it's awesome. I
love my baby and she loves her mommy. However, when I really need to or
sometimes want to do something without her I cannot.
My
business is professional organizing and lifestyle consulting. Imagine how I feel on the days when I seem to
need my own services and can't make time for myself. But that's where the
vision of my business came from five years ago. I found myself always
straightening things, fixing things, and putting everything just so. I thought to myself I can make money doing
this or at the very least I can have a greater love for what I do.
I have
been a little depressed that I don't work as much as I used to outside of my
house. Now, being a professional organizer imagine how I felt when my
well thought out super detailed plan for how my life was to progress after
becoming a mother did not work out the way I expected. Now I am a woman
of faith. I believe God's word and I
know when I don't get what I feel is for me He has something better.
However, I am human and I just knew at some point my life would return to
a revamped version of my former workaholic style; meaning I can still do the
activities I did before motherhood only less. More often than not I find I
don't get to do them at all because the plan changed. Our childcare
situation changed. My clientele changed. And frankly if I could speak
what I have learned this weekend my purpose changed. Right now is not the
time for me to serve on every board, committee, and team. Right now is
not the time for me to take care of everyone else and their needs. Right
now is not the time to make millions for good companies and not myself.
My purpose right now as one of my clients so eloquently put it is to be a
“Mompreneur".
I am the
type of person who is a very dedicated worker. Not being conceited or
full of myself, but often when I work somewhere people want me to do more.
Because when I'm at work my mind is at work. I block out my pain,
my fatigue, my needs, and focus on the tasks at hand. In today's society
that is missing. People are working for money. It is a means to an
end, but outside of food, shelter, and basic clothing how much money do we want?
People are working at the expense of their entire life. We work all
week long to pay people we don't even know. Right now is not the time for
me to do that. It is the time for me to
put a larger priority that comes in a smaller package before everything.
Right
now my life is about more than running a successful business, it's about my
baby. I have certain days I can work, volunteer, etc., and I have days
where I am just mommy. I even have days where they overlap thanks to a
great church home and certain other opportunities where I can take the baby
with me. This “Ladies Only” weekend has given me a greater appreciation
for my Mompreneur role. Because there are many women who need an opportunity
like mine. I am at a stage in my life where I can grow my business and my
baby in the way God wants. I have the time to teach my baby how to love
God, have manners, and value education and that's priceless to me. So for
anyone who has missed me or is looking for me I may not be coming and that is
okay. Certain days of the week I'm only mommy and if Elise can't go I can’t
go; period. I thank God for all the awesome women in my life especially
mother, my aunties, Lorraine, Ms. Young, Ms. Jackie, Ms. Tonya, and Ms. Felicia,
and Ms. Sharon. All these women are
great mothers who have helped me and encouraged me by being great examples more
than they know.
