Have you ever tried to find Waldo?
The goal is to find the little geeky dude wearing red and white stripes and big glasses amongts everything from farm animals to cars to planes and everything in between.
Driving back from Montreal on Sunday I came to realize how easy moms lose themselves and trying to find the Woman becomes just like trying to find Waldo except...
You are trying to find your Self and unfortunetly She is even harder to find as she isn't wearing stripes...
She might be wearing old maternity clothes that still fit (the horror), some newer clothes she bought at Wal-Mart (Let's hear it for the Roll Back prices) when she finally (for the 10th time) decided to start her new diet and needed some "inspiration" (Like elastic waist is suppose to be inspiring?!)...
She might be wearing a scrunchie instead of sporting a salon colored and cut cute bob a la Posh Spice...
She might look exhausted, anxious and annoyed as opposed to fun, outgoing and outrageous...
She might not look like she cares about her appearance (her clothes, her make-up, did I mention the hair?)but secretly wishes she even looked like an uglier version of her old self as what she is faced with when looking in the mirror seems like such a project that even Stacy from "What not to wear" would be running in the other direction...and not look back.
Screw Waldo, where's Elissa?
I see a Devoted, caring and attentive mom.
I see a loving wife.
I see a daughter who loves her mom.
I see a Friend who is loyal.
I see a cook, a bathroom cleaner, a laundry master and even a gardener (We got 4 pumpkins!).
I see a student.
I see an unsure 34 year old woman who can't seem to live her life the way she desires: To the fullest.
Why is it that women always put themselves last?
Why do we feel guilty for going out with friends, going to the gym or even going shopping by ourselves?
Tonight I say Goodbye to the Guilt.
Adios. Au revoir.
Turns out Mommyhood is like a Venn Diagram in which expectations, roles and duties overlap and the One person who is supposed to keep it all in perspective loses just that: Her perception of her True Self.
Because not only do I want to find Elissa but I want Logan & Lukas to meet her as well...Turns out she was preatty great all along.
A bientot,
xox
