As I was driving home this morning, after dropping Natalie off at school, I got lost in thought. Who was I before children, before I was a mother? The truth is, I don't really know.
I remember having a great job as a Marketing Director for an assisted living community. I remember how much I loved dressing up for work every day and feeling important. I had a closet full of at least fifty business suits from expensive stores. I had dozens of high heels that I wore 18 hours a day without a complaint.
I remember being good at my job, and with people, and with money. I remember going out and listening to live music or dancing in clubs. I remember trying new restaurants and going to see movies. I remember staying out late, sometimes till dawn, just having fun with my friends. Ah, I remember spending time with my friends...
But I don't really know WHO I was or where I was headed. I have had a million jobs. I have lived a million places. I've been married twice. Was I ever happy? Yes, of couse. But I was also happy in change.
I'm constantly changing, as I'm sure everyone does as well. I think what makes me different than other people is that I don't live in my discontent of a situation, I make change happen. I don't want to waste a minute of my life in the wrong situation.
Being a mother now, there really isn't a whole lot of option for change. I know I was meant to do this, and I know a million mothers have said the same thing, but there are times that I want to do something else, something important, something life-changing. I love my children and would never want to change the fact that I am their mother. But I want to be good at something. I take that back, I want be GREAT at something. I want my brain to work like it used to. I don't want to stare at plans to make a simple birdhouse at Home Depot and think "I can't figure this out, it makes my brain hurt". I used to run an assisted living, damn it, why can't I make a birdhouse?
I want to dress up again. I stood in my closet this morning and held up dresses that I want to wear one day. I tried on high heels that I want to wear. But I have no where to go today, except to take Eliah to Occupational Therapy. So, I put on the same old jeans and t-shirt I wear every day.
I want to go places and do things. Having a child that is in a wheelchair and gets overwhelmed easily, makes going anywhere a challenge. Eliah sleeps until noon, then eats lunch. By the time he is done, it's time to pick up Natalie from school. By the time I pick her up, it's time for the home health aide to arrive. By the time we get settled, it's time to make dinner....then homework....then baths....then bed. And then it starts over.
I want to talk to adults again, and be able to maintain a conversation about things other than what brand of diapers I use or how long it takes Natalie to do her homework. I want to discuss music and movies and literature (although reading just makes my brain hurt). I want to try new restaurants and local hot spots. Although, I can honestly say I don't want to stay up all night. I'm over that part.
I want my body back. Motherhood is not kind to the female figure. I know I'm too old for mini-skirts and leather pants, but I want to be able to wear a bikini again. I want to wear form fitting dresses again. I want to be able to see all my body parts when I look down.
Is this what a mid-life crisis is? Is it a matter of trying to define who I am now? Is it figuring out how to combine the old me with the person I've become? My guess is yes. I will say this, I am happy as a mother and I am comfortable in the life I have. I think I've changed my perception of my ideal life to include a special needs child. I still feel important. Is it changing the world? No, not really.
Is a mid-life crisis about changing the life you have? Or is it coming to a place of understanding and comfort with what you already have? I have no clue. But I do know there is always room to make my life better.
Maybe tomorrow I will dress up.
I remember having a great job as a Marketing Director for an assisted living community. I remember how much I loved dressing up for work every day and feeling important. I had a closet full of at least fifty business suits from expensive stores. I had dozens of high heels that I wore 18 hours a day without a complaint.
I remember being good at my job, and with people, and with money. I remember going out and listening to live music or dancing in clubs. I remember trying new restaurants and going to see movies. I remember staying out late, sometimes till dawn, just having fun with my friends. Ah, I remember spending time with my friends...
But I don't really know WHO I was or where I was headed. I have had a million jobs. I have lived a million places. I've been married twice. Was I ever happy? Yes, of couse. But I was also happy in change.
I'm constantly changing, as I'm sure everyone does as well. I think what makes me different than other people is that I don't live in my discontent of a situation, I make change happen. I don't want to waste a minute of my life in the wrong situation.
Being a mother now, there really isn't a whole lot of option for change. I know I was meant to do this, and I know a million mothers have said the same thing, but there are times that I want to do something else, something important, something life-changing. I love my children and would never want to change the fact that I am their mother. But I want to be good at something. I take that back, I want be GREAT at something. I want my brain to work like it used to. I don't want to stare at plans to make a simple birdhouse at Home Depot and think "I can't figure this out, it makes my brain hurt". I used to run an assisted living, damn it, why can't I make a birdhouse?
I want to dress up again. I stood in my closet this morning and held up dresses that I want to wear one day. I tried on high heels that I want to wear. But I have no where to go today, except to take Eliah to Occupational Therapy. So, I put on the same old jeans and t-shirt I wear every day.
I want to go places and do things. Having a child that is in a wheelchair and gets overwhelmed easily, makes going anywhere a challenge. Eliah sleeps until noon, then eats lunch. By the time he is done, it's time to pick up Natalie from school. By the time I pick her up, it's time for the home health aide to arrive. By the time we get settled, it's time to make dinner....then homework....then baths....then bed. And then it starts over.
I want to talk to adults again, and be able to maintain a conversation about things other than what brand of diapers I use or how long it takes Natalie to do her homework. I want to discuss music and movies and literature (although reading just makes my brain hurt). I want to try new restaurants and local hot spots. Although, I can honestly say I don't want to stay up all night. I'm over that part.
I want my body back. Motherhood is not kind to the female figure. I know I'm too old for mini-skirts and leather pants, but I want to be able to wear a bikini again. I want to wear form fitting dresses again. I want to be able to see all my body parts when I look down.
Is this what a mid-life crisis is? Is it a matter of trying to define who I am now? Is it figuring out how to combine the old me with the person I've become? My guess is yes. I will say this, I am happy as a mother and I am comfortable in the life I have. I think I've changed my perception of my ideal life to include a special needs child. I still feel important. Is it changing the world? No, not really.
Is a mid-life crisis about changing the life you have? Or is it coming to a place of understanding and comfort with what you already have? I have no clue. But I do know there is always room to make my life better.
Maybe tomorrow I will dress up.
If that is a midlife crisis, then I am having mine at 28. I think it's just a momlife crisis...
ReplyDeleteFor me, after the novelty of the responsibilities wore off, and then they outnumbered the amount of free time I had, is when I started to get in that 'rut'. It's tough, and in some cases impossible, to get out of those routines. Question is, what little things can I do to break up the routine? Which few responsibilities can be put on the back burner for a day or two, or be done in fewer intervals?
ReplyDelete'Baby step' suggestion from a dumb guy... now that it is getting cooler, start to get your sexy back by 'dressing up' those jeans with a sexy pair of heels and one of those hot suit blouses. I have no doubt that you'll pull it off mahvelously, dahling!
Hang in there!
EWC