Positively Inspirational Round-up: Appreciating who we are

I’m sat here in my dining room with the patio doors open and I’m looking out to newly bloomed flowers, fresh green grass and a bright sun, what is not to like?  It feels very easy to write the Positively Inspirational round-up this month, Spring is here and that in itself is a reason to feel positive. But if you need more than that then have a read through these posts and lift yourself to a positive place –

I read this first post a while back but it has stayed with me and therefore I’ll share. ‘We are, we can, we do’ gives us an insight into the rebranded Girls Guides motto and I like it a lot. It is really strong and positive and that is what our young girls need, there is so much focus in the media on body image and how you look rather than who you are. So I think organisations like guiding are helping to address that imbalance and they build girls up for who they are and what they can do. Brilliant!

Whilst I’m ranting about this I thought I’d share a good post from over at Keynko. Mary has also been thoroughly enraged by the fashion industry and what they term a curvy girl. She shares with us a picture of her beautiful daughter who looks tiny to me but at a size 10/12 apparently she is considered ‘a curvy girl’. Mary questions why size even needs to come into the equation and I have to say I agree.

Not content with the media bashing us, it is so easy to be too hard on ourselves as well. Kat has written a great reminder in her post titled ‘perspective’. You know when you read a post and find yourself nodding as you think ‘yes I do that too’. I’m so pleased that Kat had the wake-up call to look at herself and realise she is doing alright.

I find that time takes its toll on us, having worked in recruitment for a number of years I often see Mums who think they have nothing left to offer and they seem to have shrunk inside and ‘just become a mum’. Their words not mine, because actually there is a whole ton of responsibilities that come with being Mum and doing that job well is one of the most rewarding things we can achieve, if we let ourselves.

Two inspiring women who are raising their children through difficult health issues are Jane and Emma and both have written extensively about their journeys with their daughters. What is extra special about them is that not only are they being phenomenal parents to their own children they are educating parents everywhere. You need to go and read this post over at Jane’s. I kid you not when I say I sat there and read it through tears, so glad was I that one of Jane’s readers was able to save her little girls life. The other Mum I mentioned is Emma and she titled her recent post ‘damn you DDH’ and this is another great and inspiring read which I am sure is helping parents everywhere.

Anyone parent reading this, remember that having children does change you but you don’t need to lose who you are just because you now have some small people. Rachel at Three years and Home created a lovely meme recently and I kept coming across it on many of the blogs I read. Spurred by a conversation with a friend about how she will not return to work after maternity leave and will be just a mum, Rachel decided to turn it on its head and discover why she is not ‘just’ anything. I give you the I am Me meme. I have not taken part in the meme myself as actually I’m quite content with whom I am and my families move to the countryside in a couple of months. However it seems most of the world are not so content for me and worry about what I will do when I give up work.

I’ll leave you with a post from a lovely blogger Heather, she reminds us how easy it is to become absorbed in our children and in worrying for them. A weekend away with the girls and a total lack of sleep whilst having great fun remind her who she is and that she needs to remember to make time to just be herself.

Due to my house move and the busyness of life that comes with that I’m taking a little break from writing here and I’ll be back later in the summer, well I will if they will have me!

Be blessed, Mich x

About Michelle Pannell

Mummy from the Heart is the fourth baby of Michelle, a 46 year old (manic) mother living in East Sussex. Having moved to the countryside and ‘retired’, Michelle can now be found eating too much cake and taking long walks. She lives life on the bright side and looks for the joy in every situation, even the excess pounds those cakes keep adding! Michelle’s blog is a very honest place where she shares tales of imperfect parenting, being a Christian digital activist and anything else that takes her fancy.

• Mail
|
• Web
|
• Twitter
|
• Facebook
|
• YouTube
|
• More Posts(50)