I'm done putting my kids first.

Journaling is hard. Finding my voice is hard. Finding the time, making a discipline, is hard. It's a lot like other important things in my life, I let myself get distracted and they fall by the wayside. And I know the truth, that if I practice these good things: walking with God, writing, exercising, that I may one day actually become the person that I want to be-that I'm supposed to be. And it's not like I don't have a lot on my plate, I'm a mom to two kids under two-but in a way, that should encourage me to want to do it even more. I want my children to practice discipline, but how can they learn to follow me if I am not practicing? And I let the excuse of "I have kids" to keep me from following my dreams, like I'm stealing something from them by following my dreams. When the reality is that by achieving my dreams for myself and for them, I'm giving them a fantastic example to watch and to follow. Mommy achieved her dreams, and so can I. I know that people could and do take this idea of putting themselves first over their children to the extreme, to the point of neglect, but that's not what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about the other extreme, the one I struggle with, hiding behind the "mommy" card, making your children your entire life, and honestly...settling. Raising children is an incredible accomplishment, and I don't mean to diminish that in any way, but that's not all you're capable of mama. You have dreams that were put there inside of you, from the moment you were born. And if you went your whole lifetime without accomplishing those things, are you really doing yourself and your children a favor? We want the world for our children, and what better way to help them achieve their dreams by reaching ours? So that we can sit down with them and say "I've been there, I've done that. It is possible to reach your dreams!" And it can be done with baby steps. A small change of mindset, of priorities. Of making time to do something, just one thing each day to help you get closer to your dream. Because you are worth it. Your dreams are worth it. You'll be a happier person if you're doing what you love, and happier for your kids to be around too. So do it for your children but most importantly for yourself. You go mama. Put yourself first, I promise it will be worth it.