I’m just coming off of a stint with morning (all-day) sickness. It’s typical for me to feel ill, tired, nauseous, and have no appetite in the early stages of pregnancy, and truthfully, I was discouraged to plan a pregnancy knowing what was in store for me.
However, after a conversation on the matter with a good friend, I was given the encouragement I needed, and my husband and I decided it was time to expand our family. This time I would have a changed attitude and things would be much better!
Or so I thought.
Within the year we got the news that our family would be growing, and I was determined I would not let myself succumb to the long days of feeling ill and worn down. I knew the sickness would come, but I was not about to let it get the best of me. Knowing I was living on borrowed time, I took the advice of my friend and stocked my freezer with everything from lasagna and enchiladas to cookies and brownies for the kids’ lunches before the sickness began.
And then it started settling in. You know the feeling. Nausea. Food aversions. Tired beyond explanation. Thankfully for me, vomiting is not in my gene make up, although there are times when I swore it would make me feel better, at least for a moment.
The days started getting longer, and suddenly I felt like I was living a real-life version of the movie Groundhog Day. I tried to break it up. I tried getting creative and going somewhere new. I tried wearing a new outfit. I tried taking a pretty drive. But nothing changed. I was in a funk.
For some reason that funk really reared its ugly head every Tuesday. Tuesdays were especially bad for some strange reason. After a few terrible Tuesdays, I decided I was going to do everything I could to make the next week better!
I woke up the next Tuesday morning with a new attitude and arsenal of ideas to make things better. I happily got up, showered, and dressed in a great outfit. Still sick. I hit Subway with my youngest daughter. Nothing, still sick. I even treated myself to a manicure and pedicure. Still, I wanted nothing more than to go home and lie down.
I was trying so hard! Why wasn’t I feeling any better? Then it hit me. If Tuesday is going to be so bad, then I need to live for Wednesday because it can’t possibly top Tuesday!
And that’s just what I did. I still tried to stay positive and motivated, but in the back of my mind I kept telling myself, “Tomorrow is Wednesday!” Before I knew it, Wednesday was here, and I miraculously felt a little better.
Within a matter of a few months the sickness was gone, and I am now enjoying my pregnancy. But it was a serious lesson to me that hard days (or weeks, or months, or–for some–years) will come, and one of the ways we can get through them is to look for a bright tomorrow.
As moms we have hard days. Someone is sick (possibly long-term), jobs are lost, days are long, money is tight, messes are made, things don’t go as planned. But there is a bright tomorrow. Maybe it’s not a literal tomorrow, but there is an ending to the difficulties somewhere in your future.
While going through it, I had to remind myself that my body is working hard for a good cause; it’s growing a human being for crying out loud! And so are you! It’s difficult: we want to lie down, we try new things, we get out, but nothing changes. Remember, you are growing a human being–you!
With that growth comes pain, heartache, trials, long days, a real-life Groundhog Day effect, and more. But look to the future when those things happen. Remind yourself that this cannot last forever and that once it has passed you will be rewarded– be it a sweet baby to hold in your arms, or new-found wisdom, patience, or appreciation for the good things in your life.
QUESTION: Do you ever feel like your days blend together because of the difficulties of motherhood or your current life situation?
CHALLENGE: Look for the good in your present situation, and if you find that difficult, challenge yourself to look to the future. What is your “Wednesday”?
Image by arztsamui/FreeDigitalPhotos.
Oh what wonderful advice from a wise woman! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your new baby. Because as you’ve said above, tomorrows always come.
Thanks Kobie!
Good stuff! Some days (weeks/months/years) are just plain HARD, but there’s always a “tomorrow”.