I think it’s safe to say that we begin to lose a little of ourselves after we become moms. Our lives and our bodies change so drastically, and it can take a toll. I’ve struggled over the years with confidence after kids. I’ve struggled with finding myself again.
I was working a really demanding job that kept me away from my kids. I felt like I missed everything. I felt like I wasn’t myself and pulled in a million different directions. My clothes felt weird. I thought things like, “do moms even wear swimsuits anymore?”
I know it can feel like kids can suck the life out of you. Work-life balance is a never-ending struggle. Self-image is tested. But you deserve to be you.
The thing is, you can be you while raising children.
I encourage you to chase your sun. Follow your light, take a chance, and soak up every day. Do what makes you feel happy and empowered and understand that it also makes you a better mom.
One thing my husband and I treasure is travel, and we have never let kids get in the way of it. We budget for travel because it is important to us. We have brought our girls on over 30 flights and cherish taking them to new places. Traveling with my kids is something that teaches them valuable life lessons and fuels my passion to see and experience new destinations.
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I’m so thankful for all of the travel experiences we’ve had with our kids.
One other thing that helps me find myself more while also being a mom is celebrating my body with clothes I wouldn’t normally pick for myself. I’ve always been relatively “safe” with my fashion choices. However, I have come to love taking risks.
Being safe with our clothes is boring, and I never realized how trying new styles, colors, and prints can instantly make me feel empowered.
One of the reasons why I love Evereve so much is that they specialize in styling sessions. Every time I walk into the store, they always help me find something that I normally wouldn’t pick for myself. I used to never wear print. I hardly ever wore yellow because I thought it wasn’t “my color.” I thought graphic tees were too distracting for me. (Go here to see the closest Evereve location to you!)
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Click the above images to shop! This yellow printed maxi dress is my absolute favorite dress for summer. I love that I can dress it up with a denim jacket or throw it over a swimsuit!
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Look at me now. Graphic tees. Sneakers with high-waisted denim shorts. Yellow printed sundress. I’m chasing my sun and following my light. Most importantly, I want to teach my daughters to do the same.
I hope you chase your sun this summer. Do something that brings you light. Feel happy and empowered.
Katherine Onken says
June 27, 2018 at 9:36 pmI love this! As a new mom with my little girl, who is just over a month old, I have been struggling to find balance between who I was before her and who I am now as her mommy. The first few weeks were so hard because I felt like I lost myself in all of the days that ran together. Between feedings, crying (myself and the baby included) and trying to accept my new body, I was going absolutely crazy! I still find myself looking in the mirror at my squishy belly with all of the many stretch marks and coaching myself to remember these things: I have experienced the greatest miracle and blessing of my life in becoming a mom and my body is proof of that miracle. I am working hard to find that light and hold on to it everyday as I learn to be the best mommy and wife I can possibly be for my family. Thank you for this awesome post! I don’t want my daughter to criticize her body or fear anything about motherhood because it is wonderful. I want her to carry the sun with her everywhere she goes in all that she does!
Meg O. says
July 2, 2018 at 12:15 amOh thank you SO much for your comment! I am so happy you loved the post. I think we put SO MUCH on ourselves and forget to take care of ourselves in such simple ways. Amen sister!