Candy striped polo shirt (find similar in pastel here, sequin striped (fabulous!) here, multicolor here)
How would I compare being a single woman to being a wife and mother? Well, both have its own highlights and moments and challenges. I cannot say one is harder or easier than the other, they are just different.
I was a busy gal when I was single and lived alone. I climbed up the corporate ladder with much more ambition that I do now, I socialized, I went to parties like there's no tomorrow, I went clubbing, I sat in coffee shops with my laptop and write, I cleaned my apartment , I attended trainings and workshops on a regular basis to better myself, I went to the bookstore and read, I went to evening CFA classes, I shopped, I called my parents, I traveled. Well, that sounds an awful lot, isn't it?
Let's compare to how my life is nowadays. I still climb the corporate ladder, but it's no longer at the top of my priority list. I make pretty much good money with excellent benefits, and since I have proven my capabilities during my single years, now I'm at the position with higher responsibility but also higher flexibilities. Whenever my team needs to work until late, I leave the office at five and guide my team from home via telephone and internet chats. I play with my son, feed him, prepare dinner, and wait for Hubby to come home. He usually comes home around seven, then we'll have dinner while our son usually play around the dining table within our sight. Then both me and Hubby play with our son, I prepare formula bottles, prepare him for bed, story time, and I tuck him in at eight. Then usually my Hubby will want to tell me more about his day, bath time, I do my before bedtime ritual like praying, writing my gratitude journal and such, then we go to bed at eleven. In between, I sneak some time for myself: watching YouTube, read, blogwalking, etc. I have very limited me time nowadays, so I really take advantage of it to recharge and keep myself sane. ^__^
Hmmm.... Sounds much simpler and less complicated than my single years, no? Yes. But let me tell you one thing that makes a huge difference: now I have a husband and a son to take of. I mean, I do have PEOPLE who really needs me to take care of them, on a DAILY basis.
I have a grown up man who needs my attention and my listening to him, and hug him and kiss him, and prepare his dinner, and eat with him, and greet him at the door, and shop for his toiletries, etc. A grown up man who needs his wife as a person, as a woman, as a partner, AND for his wife to make a home for him where he can unwind and relax.
I also have a little man who needs not just mental attention but also physical attention. He needs Mommy to play with him, he needs constant changing, bath, feeding, milk, lots of hugs and kisses. He is growing and learning and getting bigger and naughtier 24/7, and as parents we have responsibility to guard this little boy to grow up into the man that God wants him to be. Of course, Daddy has a lot of share in raising a son. Yet when the son is still so little, Mommy holds the bigger role.
As a single woman I had different responsibilities and tasks. Yet, I found out that even if I let the apartment fall apart around me, it would still be OK. Not feeding a toddler is not OK. I can skip a day or two of CFA class and catch up on the material later on. I cannot skip a day or two worth of nutritious meals for a toddler, because I know full well his brain is developing and his body is growing and needs fuel. Your TV can wait. Your friends can wait. The doorbell can wait. A toddler can wait, yes, waiting while screaming at the top of his lungs and then as result he'll throw up and you'll have to feed him and clean him all over again. It's different because now it involves a small, defenseless, living, breathing human being that desperately needs you.
I used to have a dog. It's like having a child, yes. It depends on you and needs a lot of tender, love and care. But it's different. A dog will always be a pet, no matter how old it becomes. A child will grow up to be a man. That thought made me feel responsible that the toddler wobbling around the house right now will turn out to be a godly man. ^__^
It's like what my Hubby said one time. "As a single man, I am like a horse who loves prancing around and run wild and free in the green meadow, with no cares in the world. This horse love to try out new things, so sometimes he purposely goes down the valley and into the jungle, cross the muddy river or even the flooded one, galloping down a waterfall like a man horse, just for the sake of adrenaline. Being reckless makes you fell alive. Now the horse has a princess and a little baby on his back. He can still run wild and free and jump like a mad horse, but he chose not to, because he wants the princess and the baby on this back to be safe and enjoy the ride. Sometimes the princess and the baby will get down on the grass to have a picnic, THEN the horse will have some time to run wild again. But after several hours, after letting out some steam, the horse will go back to the princess and the baby, and be tame and sweet again. And all three of them will galloping again happily to the beautiful, green meadow, where all of them can rest, and rejoice, and be merry, together. That place is called HOME."
I'm linking up to these wonderful Ladies:
Monday
- Taming Rapunzel: Hair Style Monday
- DC in Style: Monday Bloom
- Not Dead Yet Style: Visible Monday
- Mom's The Word: Make Your Home Sing Monday
- Happy Wives Club: Marriage Mondays
- The Better Mom: The Better Mom Mondays
- What Joy Is Mine: Monday Musings
- Color Blind: Thrifer Anonymous
- The Modest Mom
- Create With Joy: Inspire Me Monday
- The Beauty in His Grip: Sharing His Beauty Mondays
- A Pinch Of Joy: Busy Monday
- Tell Me A Story
- Still Being Molly: YOLO Monday
- Very Busy Mama: Real Mom Style
- Momma In Flip Flops: Real Mom Style
- Thrifty Chic Mom: Real Mom Style
- I Am Priiincess: Monday Madness
- Basic Training – Corporate Style: Fashionably Employed Link Up
- Glamamom: Mode Monday
- Bon Bon Rose Girls: Monday Mingle
- Mom Trend: Monday Mingle
- More Pieces of Me: Manic Monday
- On the Daily Express: Manic Monday
- Whitney Nic James: Personal Style Monday
- Fizz And Frosting: Mix It Monday
- The Style Record: Monday Must Haves
- A Proverbs 31 Wife: Matrimonial Monday Linkup
- I Should Be Mopping The Floor: Inspiration Monday
- Splashin Glory: Momma Notes
- Missional Call: M M and M Monday Linkup
- Chronicles of Grace: Unforced Rhythms
- The Wellspring: Playdates with God
- Rich Faith Rising: Unite
- Finding Heaven: Soli Deo Gloria
- Growing Home: Growing Homemaker
- Teaching What Is God: Women Helping Women
- Join The Gossip: Monday Morning Gossip
- Life of Meg: Mingle Monday
Tuesday
- Life’s a Party Dress Like it: Stylish Tuesday
- The Fashion Canvas: Trend Spin Linkup
- Corner Stone Confessions: Titus 2 Tuesday
- Time Warp Wife: Titus 2 Tuesday
- Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
- Keeping Life Simple: The Gathering Spot
- Sugar Bee Crafts: Take A Look Tuesday
- Style Elixir: Style Sessions Fashion Link Up
- Growing Home Blog: Teach Me Tuesday
- 100lb Countdown: Turn It Up Tuesday
- Greater Than Rubies: Remix, Rewear, Restyle
- Walking In Memphis In High Heels: Trend Spin Link Up
- Myriad Musings: Style Swap Tuesdays
Wednesday
- Transatlantic Blonde: What I Wore Wednesday
- Because Shanna Said So: Random Wednesday
- My Girlish Whims: My Whims Wednesday
- Juana Mikels: Wednesday's Prayer Girls
- Kimba Likes: Wardrobe Wednesday
- The Pleated Poppy: What I Wore Wednesday
- Messy Marriage: Wedded Wednesday
- Elizabeth & Co.: Be Inspired
- My Daily Walk In His Grace: Winsome Wednesday
- A Creative Princess
- Get Your Pretty On: I Feel Pretty
- A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
- Cute And Little: Color Brigade
- Redcliffe Style: 30 Plus Style and Beauty Linkup
- Adorned From Above
- Woman to Woman Ministries: Word Filled Wednesday
- Little R & R: Wednesday Link Party
- We Are That Family: Works For Me Wednesday
- Jennifer Dukes Lee: Tell His Story
- Fitness Blondie: The Hump Day Blog Hop
Thursday
- CLK Fashions: Fashion Boutique Favorites
- The Tiny Heart: Look What I Got
- Penniless Socialite: Look What I Got
- Rebecca Lately: Look What I Got
- Vodka-Infused Lemonade: Tres-Chic Thursday
- Mix and Match Fashion: What I Wore to Work
- 3-D Lessons For Life: Thought Provoking Thursday
- Katherines Corner: Thursday Favorite Blog Hop
- A Glimpse Inside: Catch A Glimpse Party
- Serving Joyfully: Thriving Thursday
- Glitz And Gold: All Things Thursday
- Maybe I Will: Be.You.Tiful
- Chic California: Be.You.Tiful
- The Happy Gal: Be.You.Tiful
- Fry Sauce And Grits: Be.You.Tiful
- Raising Mighty Arrows: Proverbs 31 Thursday
- All Things With Purpose: All Things Thursday
- Children Are A Blessing: Growing In Grace Link Up
- White Coat Wardrobe and Perfectly Coutured : Three Fer Thursday
- Simply Just Lovely: Working Girl With Style
Friday
- Mummy's Got Style: Fashion Friday
- Penniless Socialite and Delusions of Grandeur: Favorite Fashion Friday Link Up
- Two Thirty Five Designs: Casual Friday Link Up
- Serenity Now: Weekend Bloggy Reading Link Up
- Simply Lulu Style: What I’m Loving Fridays
- Style Elixir: Friday’s Fab Favorites
- Musings of a Housewife: Fashion Friday
- Rags to Stitches: Coffee Date Friday
- Womanhood With Purpose: Friday's Link Up
- Missional Women: Faith Filled Friday
- Spiritual Sundays
- Essential Thing Devotions: Essential Fridays
- Rachel The Hat: Passion For Fashion
- Simple Sequins: Fashion Item Friday
- Chantilly Songs: The Totally Awesome Blog Hop
- Christian Mommy Blogger: Fellowship Friday
- The Jenny Evolution: Friday Flash Blog
- Soul Survival: Faithful Friday Linkup
- Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo: Anything Goes Linky Party
- Midwest Style Bloggers: Friday Favorites
- Lena B Actually: Passion For Fashion
- Blissful And Domestic: Feature Friday Link Up
- Sabby Style: Friday Frills
Saturday
- How Sweet The Sound: Pink Saturday
- Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday Linky Party
- Renewed Daily: Recommendation Saturday
- Fashionista Momma: Stylish Saturday
- Sincerely Paula: No Rules Weekend Blog Party
- Amanda's Books And More: Make My Saturday Sweet
- The Baby Shopaholic: Mamanista Friday
Sunday
14 comments:
Love the colors! Springtime perfect - thanks for linking up! XO
~Whitney
www.whitneynicjames.com
I think these are great thoughts! The outfit is so lovely ,as well! Love & prayers, in Jesus, Cynthia
Such a pretty yellow skirt! It looks terrific with your colorful striped top and neutral jacket. Very nice look!
Jennie@http://apocketfulofpolkadots.blogspot.com/
A lovely reflection on the different seasons of life. Thanks for linking with Unforced Rhythms.
Super pretty skirt!
I love the colors, so summer!
God bless,
XO, Claire
http://www.littlemissfashionqueen.blogspot.com
Very summery!
☆Transatlantic Blonde☆
Very spring/summer! Cute!
L,
Vicky
Come link up with me at Whatcha Wearing Wednesday! themummychronicles.com
pretty colors!!
xo,
Sandy
Sandy a la Mode
I love the story from your husband. it's so sweet and so accurate.
I scaled back at work for the kids. I don't always love where I work like I used to,but I am typing from home today and that's what counts.
Cute post,
Marie @ In Our Happy Place
The color of your midi skirt is amazing and the length is great! Totally love this outfit!
xox
Catty Fashion
Cute earrings and the outfit is prettier without the brown jacket. I can see the detail of the top better and it's very pretty. Thanks for linking on Amanda's Books and More, on my weekend blog hop!
Thanks for linking up. Cute skirt. xo ~ The Fashionista Momma
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