Celebrate your own birthdays!

Once we become pregnant, our lives change – there’s no doubt about that. But one thing that often happens isn’t necessarily for the best: we start forgetting about ourselves and our desires and wants – if not our needs.

Children and families need their parents to be happy and fulfilled to have a happy family life – there’s a reason why there’s the expression if mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. We can’t forget about our indulgences sometimes too.

This past February, I took my daughter out for her 19th birthday. We went to a local cafe that has a stained glass workshop attached. They always have beautiful pieces hanging and they catch my attention as we ooh and ah over their beauty. But that morning, there was a piece in the window I *had* to have. When I asked the price, I almost choked and decided that I was going to be limited to admiring it from afar. And so I did throughout breakfast.

Finally, after breakfast, I asked the owner if we could negotiate a price and if she would take a lay away arrangement. She agreed to both and we came to a deal that satisfied us both. So, I began paying for it in February with the goal to have it in my home by my birthday, which was this past Monday.

I am so thrilled to say, that on Saturday, I put the final dollars down and brought it home. On Monday, we hung it up and here is my gift to myself. Something I would never ordinarily buy or even own, but it was one of those things that makes me smile every time I even think about it, let alone look at it.

Take care of yourself as well as you take care of your baby. It’s important.

Image: Marijke Durning

~~~~~~~~