When you become a parent, you’ll hear (probably multiple times):
“It’s not about you anymore.  It’s about the baaaaaby.”
I’ve said those words myself.   And there is so much truth in that statement.
(Much more than you can even begin to comprehend when you first hold that sweet, snuggly bundle of joy.)

You no longer get to sleep until you wake up.
Your eating schedule is based on someone else’s hunger instead of your own.
You plan your day around naps(but not your own).
And you spend more time washing more clothes than you ever imagined possible.
(How do such small creatures create so much more laundry??)

As a parent, no time is your own.
(I can’t even go to the bathroom alone anymore!)

Every moment of every day revolves not around you, but the little one(s).
And while sometimes their enthusiasm and joy of childhood can’t help but invigorate you,
Other times it wears you down…
Reminds you that you aren’t as youthful and enthusiastic as you used to be.

And as a stay-at-home-parent, it sometimes feels even more so.
When you don’t work out in the “real” world, it gets lonely.
It’s isolating.  It leaves you feeling disconnected and detached from “real” life.

When you don’t have a “real” job, you don’t have a “real” boss to tell you that you’re doing a good job.
There’s no one to pat you on the back when things go well.
(But on the other hand, kids are probably much more forgiving when things go wrong.)

But when your job is to hug and snuggle and color and kiss,
It’s easy to get buried under all the hugging and snuggling and coloring and kisses.
Somehow after doing all the fun stuff and chores and necessities of life, it’s easy to loose you.

And sometimes I just want to be selfish.
Sometimes I just want to do what I want to do.
And sometimes I just want to shout:  Me!  Me!  Look at me!!

Sometimes I want to hear that people notice when I do something non-child related.
It makes me smile when someone compliments my writing or my photography.
I love to hear people oohing and ahhing over my crafts.
I really appreciate it when someone notices something that I’ve done.

And if that makes me selfish, then so be it.

But it also makes me aware that I need to applaud other parents for the great things they do.
It’s my job as a friend to encourage others.
It’s my responsibility to pat the back of those who might otherwise do things that go unnoticed.

So who can I encourage today?
Who do I know that needs a little note in their email inbox(or even their snail mail box)?
Who do I know that needs a smile or a hug or a little pick-me-up?

I’ll start by thanking each of you…yes, you!
In the past few weeks I’ve gotten 4 emails saying nice things about my blog, my pictures.
And I’ll be honest:  I printed those out and tucked them away in the “love box” that I have stashed away for rainy days.
We all need a high five every now and then.

And what about you??

Who inspires you to be a better person?
Have you told them that?

Who is always there for others, willing to help anytime (s)he’s asked?
Have you ever thanked them for being so giving?  So loving?

Even though Thanksgiving is over, won’t you help me continue the theme of thankfulness?