What happened???

[2girls&1boy]

Hi Everyone,

I am not one to put too much out there on forums but I really just had to put what I am feeling in writing and where else but here can I get people to listen and not judge??

I am pretty convinced I have this mummy thing sorted. I have 2 absolutely fantastic little girls and without blowing my own trumpet (okay maybe a little) I reckon I am doing a pretty good job.

My problem is that I seem to have forgotten me Prior to children I was always well dressed, well presented, hair done, nails done all that jazz. I would not have dreamed of not wearing make-up when going out. These days I am lucky if my hair gets washed once a week, I never wear makeup and I definately do not present myself nicely.. Yes I know priorities change and you don't have as much time when kids come along but I seem to have lost the old me and I have been replaced by some person I really don't recognise.

I see loads of other mums and they look amazing, yummy mummy is how I would describe them. I certainly don't feel that way about myself. I know it is all superficial but I have no confidence left - I feel old, ugly and overweight. If someone does pay me a compliment instead of accepting graciously I will say - I know your lying but thanks anyway?????

How can I be so confident with my parenting skills and so not confident as a person?? I used to be a really confident person but it seems to have been removed from my body all together.

Anyway thanks for the sounding board people that is enough from me. Thanks for listening.

Paula

[Cheekychops]

Right there with you I'm afraid.....so I'll be watching this thread to see what peoples advice is...

[Verdi]

Hi graces mum!!! and to you.

I just wanted to say that i think us mummy's work very hard and sometimes we neglect ourselves. I have learnt to balance both kids and takeing some time out for myself, i needed it!!

Fridays was my once a week beauty day. What i would do is wake really early like 6 am Wash my hair and shave and so on... Then i would blow dry it and straighten it which would only take 20 mins or when my ones were a little younger i used to go to the hairdresser once a week and they would only charge me $20 for a blowwave as i was a regular and it was easy as i could bring the kids in. Hubby knew it too infact he would encourage it as i suffered PND after my second.

As for makeup what i do everyday is apply a powdered bronzer that only takes 1 minute and it gives you a fresh clean look and then a bit of lipgloss and thats it!

To loose weight i am not one for Gyms, my opinion is that they are a bit of a rip off!!
So what i did was buy a second hand treadmill and would do atleast 30 mins on it in the morning and 30 mins at evening.

If it was a glorious day i would walk 3-6kms a day with the kiddise in the pram and they loved it!!!! we would sing and play i spy.

I lost all my weight and got even thinner then pre pregnancy with in 3months and i did it without neglecting the kids.

to all mummies i think we all deserve a bit of TLC

[Mischief]

As I cried to my hubby last night, while feeling down and out.....

I now have so much more respect for my mum.....

A mothers job is never "done", its thankless and stressful, its not regarded as a JOB even.....

But its definately the best thing Ive ever done....and when my son smiles at me, its all worth while.

Now if we can just figure out how to let go, and get some time to ourselves....lol

[li'l mac]

I've been feeling a little lost in my role as a mum lately too. Not because I don't love it, but because I'm not the same person anymore. I've come to the realisation that I need another interest or focus so that I feel I am doing something just for me. Whether it be work, volunteering for a charity or perhaps learning a language, I'm on the lookout for something to redefine myself.

So, in short, I totally hear what you are saying. I think we invest so much in our little ones (and rightly so) that we are are the ones that ultimately are forgotten. I think if you look to reclaim a bit of yourself it will help. At least I hope so as that's my plan for tackling this!!