Mama’s Big Girl’s Club

It seems after 15 years of being a mother a light finally lit up in my mind. Almost 16 years after my first child was born this coming Friday, January 24, 1998, and 15 years after my second born entered this world on January 1, 1999, I realized I have lost myself in motherhood.

I have transformed from a sharp, smart ambitious young woman to a mama whose schedule is not her own. It seems 15 years and 96 pounds later I have become a member of the mama’s big girl’s club. It's a club where sleep deprivation, working as the team mom and becoming the neighborhood taxi service are a member’s obligations.

So, I decided it was time to “Make A Move” before it’s too late. I sent a text message on Friday, January 17, 2014, at 11:30 a.m. to my family which includes my husband and two kids letting them know we will have a family meeting on Sunday, January 19, 2014. So, I got up that morning, after sleeping in late tired from driving my son to Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia for a one-day baseball camp and after cleaning up a little.

I started my routine of carting the kids to their activities. Jazmine had sub-debutante practice, so we thought, and Tripp wanted to get some more baseball work in at the park. I drove Jaz to rehearsal and guess what? The lot was empty!

She had not received the new calendar because it was distributed when she was in dance competition. UGGG!!! That was a wasted trip. So, I then drove Tripp to his friend’s house picked up his friend and took them to their high school to have a batting practice among themselves. Instead of sitting in the truck watching and waiting, I ran the hills, and I ran the track. I felt every doughnut, piece of cake, and sweet treat that I had eaten in 2013! Jaz stayed in the truck, on her cell phone of course.

Once the boys were finished with practice, I dropped off Tripp’s friend, picked up dinner and we went home to watch my favorite team the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship.

My response to the outcome of that game is another blog entry. After the game was over, I started our family meeting. I explained that I needed to get back to who I am. I explained along the journey of life and motherhood I have let myself go and sacrificed myself. I simply said, “Guys I need your help.” I explained to the kids they would need to be more responsible for themselves. I said they needed to:

• Wake themselves up in the morning

• Wash their own clothes

• Make travel arrangements to and from school and practices when necessary (approved by parents of course)

• Get their clothes ready at night to make it easier to get out of the house in the morning and on time

• Prepare their own meals for school lunch or make cereal for breaksfast - easy stuff

These are just a few things I mentioned that would help lighten mama’s load. I asked my husband if he would take the kids to school for me at least two days out of the week so on those two days I could go to the gym and work out in the morning, shower, get dressed and drive straight in to work. It’s a start.

I was excited and my heart was warmed by the response I received from my family. My husband said, “You got it Jo!” He then told the kids, “Guys guys I have seen your mom at her best and we must support her in her request.” My heart was overjoyed, and I super surprised! You know how a deer looks when he’s standing in your yard still as a mannequin with his or eyes frozen without a blink - Yep that was me.

He also explained they needed to take on more responsibility for themselves not just for me but to benefit themselves. “What are you doing to do when you go to college, and you don’t know how to cook?” He said. What happens when you have a family of your own and you don’t know how to do things like repairing a toilet or mowing the grass or washing and cleaning. They responded, “Dad we already do some of those things.” He explained “You guys need to do more.” My kids said, “We’ve got you ma!” They explained they realized they could do better, and they would do better because they too wanted me to be healthier and happier. My babies explained, we want you to be here and around when we get married and have children mama. And you know what? I want to be here to see it as well!

So, with those notes from a meeting that happened in the past - Welcome to mamas-makingmoves.com

It’s my time to make a change. It’s my time to Make a Move!