Thursday, June 3, 2010

Is it possible?

Not to lose your identity when you become a mother? I feel like I lost myself. A few weeks ago my mom asked me how awesome it would be if she won the lottery and paid my house off so I could stay home from work. Um. I got all anxious at the thought. Now, we all know that I love Maura with all my heart and soul, but part of me is being a nurse. I always wanted to be a nurse (although when I was little I thought doctors did what nurses actually do, so I said I wanted to be a doctor, when in fact nursing that I wanted to do). I absolutely LOVE my job. Not everyday, not every patient, not every doctor or co-worker, but all in all I adore being a nurse. It's definitely a major part of me. I cried the day I walked out of the hospital in my scrubs with my stethoscope around my neck. One of my dreams had come true.

I married the man of my dreams. Or at least most of my dreams ;) haha. I kid I kid! But lately, I don't feel like his wife. I feel like I'm the mother of his child. I can't explain the differences exactly, but it's different.

My mom used to be my best friend. We were extremely close. I would spend most of my days off with her doing things, or doing nothing. It didn't matter. Now, because she watches Maura on the 3 days that I work, she needs her other days to run errands, or see Gram at the nursing home, or clean the house, or just relax, or watch my brothers kids. So, I feel like I lost her, too. Another part of me, gone.

I don't have many friends, but even the ones that I had, I seemed to have lost or have become more distanced from them. They don't have kids, so it seems we lost a connection, but hopefully it's just temporary. Everyone asks how Maura is doing. No one really asks how I am. No one asks if I want to get together anymore. I guess they assume I can't or I don't want to. Or maybe they don't want to do anything that involves bringing Maura. So, I guess because I haven't really done things with friends like normal, I lost another part of me.

I used to read. A LOT. It's quite possibly my favorite thing to do, but I have no time to read now, which makes me sad.

I don't really like TV, so I don't watch many things, but I can't even keep up with anything anymore. UGH.

Please don't think I'm complaining about being a mother, because I'm not. I'm simply expressing that I'd like to be a mother, and still be myself and everything I used to be, doing everything I love. But I can't seem to find that place. Or a happy medium at this point. I hope I can sometime soon and be a happier person than I am now.

3 comments:

  1. I know you're struggling with this, but I think in time, you'll find away to balance being a wife, a mother, a nurse, and YOU. Let me know if there is any way I can help you with that :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think it's a huge adjustment that we all face when we have a baby. I'm still adjusting to my new life. I love love LOVE being a mommy, but I agree, I really don't think of "me" anymore...

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's so hard. It's like you are going through this massive identity crisis while still trying to cling on to who you were. It's almost like a death (and I mean that in the least melodramatic sense). I'm having a difficult time trying to put into words what you just so elegantly said. You're not alone.

    ReplyDelete