I’m going to skip ahead to phase 3. Today. I am currently still a SAHM, however, the last 5 years I have pursued some part time jobs, that I can still do while being home full time. My kids have now been my priority for 19 years. It was time to make myself a priority. Mid-life crisis for women is a real thing! Been there, done that. Don’t care to repeat.
At 40, I was depressed. I mean, DEPRESSED! Not sure I knew the extent while I was in it, until I came out of it. I wasn’t suicidal or anything but I fantasized about dying and just being done with life. I didn’t want to be a mom or a wife anymore! I even considered just running away or getting divorced so I only had to be a part time parent and could enjoy living alone for days on end. I was overwhelmed with the responsibility of being a mom for another 15 years after I’d already been doing it for 13.
I knew that if I was going to get my life back on track I needed to do something that was going to bring me joy again. I had spent lots of time volunteering already. I wanted to do something that would contribute to the family financially that I would enjoy doing. I examined my talents, hearts desires and realistic abilities against the time I had to give. I also wanted to make more money than minimum wage. I knew the one talent I had was teaching, but I didn’t want to go back to the classroom. One of my hearts desire was to mentor young moms. My realistic abilities was a job that was during school hours or only took up a little bit of time in the evenings.
I ended up with the idea of teaching childbirth classes. I got certified and jumped in. It was a perfect fit! I finally had a sparkle in my eyes again. I got excited when I talked about it and even found myself smiling again. Shortly after starting I also found a new place to volunteer, again somewhere I had always wanted to, but never knew how. (In Africa)
Through teaching childbirth education I was introduced to essential oils. It has become a life changing progression and new passion for me. I love to research and learn new things. I found out how important living a nontoxic lifestyle is and how with God’s natural resources we can live so much healthier. My mom used natural remedies, but never was able to explain much of the why to me. Now I research the why myself and have come to realize just how much wisdom she has. I even teach oil classes now!
I have expanded my CBE into providing labor and postpartum doula services as well. Now that my youngest is in 2nd grade and my oldest helps drive and I don’t really need babysitters anymore, I finally have the freedom to do this, as I had always wanted to. I LOVE it!
I am so passionate about moms doing what they are passionate about. My life has changed so much because I made it happen. It could have turned out so differently. I want to mentor moms and shout from the rooftops, find your passion and just do it! Next up, guiding the moms who are lost and don’t know where to start. You deserve to be joyful too.