#MomCorlissVSCorlissCorliss
If you follow me on Facebook you’ve probably come across my #MomCorlissVSCorlissCorliss posts. For those who haven’t they’re a snippet of the various conversations I have between my selfs – MomCorliss – who thinks she’s June Cleaver, Martha Stewart, and Mary Poppins all rolled into one and CorlissCorliss – who is unfiltered, unbothered, and will choose sleep over everything and everybody.
Recently a friend posted that I should publish an e-book of these conversations – I’m still considering it – because they were honest. The truth is – I was just trying to be funny; but I’ve learned that motherhood really is a never ending battle between your ‘Mother-Self’ and your ‘Self-Self’ and these ‘conversations’ really do happen in my head. All. The. Time.
Your ‘MotherSelf’ tells you that everything will work out perfectly. That you’ll be able to work 40+ hours a week, look and feel like you did in high school, cook 3, healthy well-balanced meals a day – 7 days a week, make all Valentine’s Day cards from scratch, and on, and, on.
Your ”SelfSelf’ is just trying to survive. She’s happy if at the end of the week no one’s sick or lost a limb. She lives on coffee and faith, and occasionally plays hooky from work just so she can catch up on sleep and her TV shows.
Here’s what I’ve also learned – you need both of these selfs to be the best mother you can be. Sometimes you need to make sure that everyone has had their correct servings of fruits and veggies, gotten all their vaccines, and are becoming well-rounded individuals. But you also need to be flexible and realize that staying up all night to make the perfect Teacher Appreciation gifts (secret – teachers REALLY like gift cards) might leave you bitter and tired the next morning or that letting your kid have ice cream every once in a while isn’t going to cause major health problems (unless the kid is lactose-intolerant-say no to ice cream).
Moms, I challenge you – don’t feel like you can’t give in to you – it feels so good.
Until next time…