• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • St. louis

Moms Little Running Buddy

Always striving, never quite achieving balance

DSC_0142 cropped 200 topright_text
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Running
  • Workouts
  • Pregnancy
  • Parenting
  • Partnerships

Giving Thanks for Perspective

November 19, 2012 12 Comments

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

I’m realizing just how valuable the experiences in life truly are. I’m learning to see that everything happens for a reason and that stressing and fearing doesn’t add any value to life.

With E, I wasn’t necessarily in the maternal frame of mind. I was working at a career, which I love, I was training for my first half ironman, I loved all the time out with family and friends. S and I wanted kids but the timing wasn’t exactly what we had in mind. Don’t get me wrong, we loved the idea of having a family.

My problem was I was already living what I thought was a full and content life. I was doing all the things I wanted to do. When I found out I was pregnant, I had to immediately adjust to pregnant life. It took me all 9 months to adjust to the idea of being a mom. I had fears, lots of fears.

I had a fear that there wouldn’t be any more time for me. Yep, I’m selfish like that but I love working out, I love running and I feared that all that would go away when I had a baby. (Link: Darker Side of Pregnancy | Frustrated)

Thankfully, I have a husband who supports me more than I can ever say. He lets me do the crazy things I love to do.

I had a fear that we wouldn’t be able to afford a baby. I had heard horror stories about the costs and I just worried we wouldn’t be able to do it.

Don’t get me wrong, we’ve made sacrifices but we’re still making it and even doing some fun things along the way.

I had a fear that I wouldn’t be a good mom. That my heart wasn’t going to be in it.

It’s in it! I might not be the best mom but I’m being the best one I can be.

I had a fear that I wouldn’t love being a mom. I always felt like maybe people were playing it up, trying to convince themselves that they like being parents because there was no other choice now. I feared that I would regret not having the freedom anymore to do what I wanted. (Link: I hate when that happens)

I love being a mom. Is it hard? Yes Is it not fun all the time? Nope but it doesn’t make it any less special.

I had a fear that my fears would affect the baby.

Believe me I had many fears. So much so that I ended up going to see a therapist a few times during the pregnancy to help me cope. I even feared sharing them with friends. Most of mine were already moms and they seemed so into it that I didn’t want to bring them down into my funk. My husband is great but these were fears that he had a hard time helping me work through, for obvious reasons.

Though the conversations with the therapist helped, I still went to bed anxious at times. People would tell me not to worry but my mind was much louder and told me to worry about everything.

Long story short…when E came into the world, I got a jolt of reality and with it came an overwhelming sense of self. I quickly realized it wasn’t about me. That all those fears would not be issues. I immediately knew what it meant to be a mom. I immediately knew that I now had a new role to play and that it was going to be my most important role yet.

I truly do love being a mom. Do I make sacrifices? Yep. I don’t get every run in that I plan. I don’t get every hour of sleep that I think about but what I do get is worth so much more.

Now that I’m pregnant with Baby Nuunie, I have so much more perspective and calm. Pregnancy is not fun for me, don’t let me steer you wrong, but I’m not afraid. I’m excited. I’m looking forward to the day that I look at the kitchen table and see two little bodies sitting there eating lunch. I’m looking forward to the day when S and I have no room in bed because two little monsters have snuck their way in.

Life isn’t always going to hand you a sin-free Snicker bar. Life has challenges, lots of them, but at the end of the day, I am truly thankful for what I have and what I work so hard for.

I hope that you’ll take a minute this Thanksgiving, just look at everyone and everything around you, and realize just how special and amazing your life is.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

More from my site

  • The StowawayThe Stowaway
  • Meb For Mortals Book ReviewMeb For Mortals Book Review
  • FLASH: Gold Bond GiveawayFLASH: Gold Bond Giveaway
  • This is TerribleThis is Terrible
  • Well Look What We Have HereWell Look What We Have Here
  • Women’s Running: Blogger On The RunWomen’s Running: Blogger On The Run

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Email

Comments

  1. Angela @ Happy Fit Mama says

    November 19, 2012 at 5:22 pm

    Very well said! When I was pregnant I didn’t have a full nights sleep for the whole 9 months. So many thoughts/fears swirled through by brain. But like you said, once the babes arrived, it was all good. Not easy but it felt right. I think it’s a common fear all women go through. Great post!

    Reply
    • Katie McFarland says

      November 19, 2012 at 5:33 pm

      Thanks! I love your posts about being a mom to twins. It is just another example of how it can be done.

      Reply
  2. Courtney @ Journey of a Dreamer says

    November 19, 2012 at 5:22 pm

    I faced a lot of those same fears when I was preggo. We were technically “trying” to get pregnant so it wasn’t a big shocker when it happened but it all became real really fast. I am thankful for the perspective that having a kid brings, even if it can be exhausting at times!

    Reply
    • Katie McFarland says

      November 19, 2012 at 5:32 pm

      Totally exhausting but definitely worth it. My friend once told me that being a parent is the “toughest job you’ll ever love”. Truer words have never been said.

      Reply
  3. Jen says

    November 19, 2012 at 5:25 pm

    Fantastic post and very timely! I pretty much shared every single one of these fears through my first pregnancy – and find that this second time around, a couple of them still rear their little heads. (Especially the one regarding having no more time for myself!) Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    Reply
    • Katie McFarland says

      November 19, 2012 at 5:31 pm

      Totally agree that there are fears now but I don’t let them stop me. I just know they are there and that I’ll deal with them when the time comes.

      Congrats on the pregnancy!!

      Reply
  4. Jenna says

    November 19, 2012 at 10:21 pm

    You truly have an amazing perspective!! I am so inspired by your honesty! Thank you!!

    Reply
  5. Brittany (Healthy Slice of Life) says

    November 20, 2012 at 2:59 pm

    Love that you shared your thoughts on this! I remember feeling some nervousness about the unknown of what being a mother meant, but I agree 1000000% that seeing the little face of your child is incredible and you can make it through whatever the challenge is.

    Reply
  6. XLMIC says

    November 24, 2012 at 5:25 am

    Love this, Katie. You are such a ‘whole’ person…kind, thoughtful, honest, strong…

    Very excited about Baby Nuunie and how you’re growing in so many ways 🙂

    Reply
  7. Taylor LeMay says

    February 14, 2013 at 3:15 pm

    Thank you for your honesty – just found you through A Healthy Slice of Life – these fears make my fears seem more rational and Im 3 years in 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How my 30's are different than my 20's | Moms Little Running Buddy says:
    August 4, 2016 at 4:29 pm

    […] and felt less appreciative.  After losing my dad and seeing the pain in the world, I’m more grateful for every day I get, for every blessing I […]

    Reply
  2. | Moms Little Running Buddy says:
    November 22, 2016 at 12:45 pm

    […] said it before, perspective is a beautiful thing.  And I’m hear to preach it again.  If we knew everything, we’d […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sign up for Moms Little Running Buddy

receive the latest posts directly to your inbox

Affiliate Support

Shop My Affiliates

Support me by shopping my favorite brands.

New Balance Athletic Shoe