Notes from a Flo Counselor: Carol Fiorito-Borowsky
A little while back my shoulders were feeling like rocks and aching - I really had a pain in the neck! Of course, this was partially due to a heavy bag carried on one shoulder, and wearing tops that tie behind the neck, but I realized there was also another component: all the mental weight I was putting on myself to perform and be a Supermom.As a mother there's tons of pressure to raise kids who are perfect sleepers and eaters and polite social creatures. We "should" be cautious, but not overbearing, and find the ultimate so-called balance for ourselves between family life, career life and alone time. Or so it may seem glancing through the average Mom's magazine.For 10 years I've consciously chosen to release the tendency to take on the societal picture of what my life should look and feel like, and after being a mom now for 15 months I've been taking some time for self reflection on how I'm doing, and where I can further support myself.The conclusion I reached? After dropping a few parenting techniques and work related projects that weren't working for us as a family, I turned my focus to my self-care.Here are some ways my self-care choices have evolved this summer:
- Me and my family have been taking long weekends in NJ and my exercise is walking in the woods and swimming and stretching in the pool.
- I've turned down multiple invitations to BBQ's and nights out, and instead choose to have friends around where I'll already be.
- At the end of the weekend I accept my mom in laws care packages of food and ease into Monday knowing that there's food already prepared.
- At the heart of it I feel is the tendency to notice when my thoughts and actions have turned to striving and struggling for perfection and I've come back now to acknowledging the perfection that already is present in each moment.
It's a very feminine way to approach things, and that has been a tremendous weight off my shoulders!!;- )I love to support fellow mom's who are raising the next generation so much that I designed an exclusive program called the Hot Mama Stay-cation this summer!Iâ€TMd love to hear from you momâ€TMs out there and get this conversation rockin!XO,Carol
