As a mom of two young children, I have to say this parenting stuff is hard. Yes, their kisses are wonderful. When I look into their eyes, I melt. When they say silly things, I crack up. They are beautiful, smart, funny, endearing – and I wouldn’t give them up for the world. Yet sometimes I feel like I’m drowning in a sea of Elmos, Lalaloopsies, Tinkerbell Band-Aids, and juiceboxes. There are days when my life is a disaster movie marathon and I can’t seem to pull it together long enough to change the channel. I can barely keep up with the responsibilities of motherhood – let alone wifehood, careerhood, maidhood, exercisehood, diethood, playhood, dayhood, bedtimehood, and of course, up-all-night-hood. Did I forget to mention no-time-for-myself-hood?

In the midst of all the craziness that surrounds my daily life – I have found that the best way to save myself from drowning in a sea of never ending responsibilities is to consciously recognize where I am, and then do everything I can to bring myself back to center. In other words, “Own it then OM it.”

Now you might be thinking, where is center? Great question because on days when I am gasping for air trying to keep my head above water in Momville, center would be located in my bed, under my down comforter, watching a SATC marathon on TBS. So nice. Refreshing. But the center I’m referring to is that of the spiritual kind, the yoga variety. Center is not a physical place, but rather the essence of you and where your confidence lies. A place where you can connect with yourself even if just for a split second. OM is the whole universe coalesced into a single sound and represents the union of mind, body, and spirit that is at the heart of yoga. So when you are feeling overwhelmed or overjoyed, turn inward for a moment or two, hold onto the feelings of happiness and let the feelings of anxiety, fear, frustration, and sadness pass. Practice this everyday and eventually you will be doing it without even thinking about it!

Some ~Own it then OM it~ times in my life:

When my living room looks like Toys ‘R Us and I spend all day cleaning and I never get anywhere –

Own it then OM it.

When the laundry is piled up and the baby is crying and the husband is screaming for more toilet paper –

Own it then OM it.

When I use a car cart at the grocery store and I keep slamming into store shelves because I have no perception of how large the thing really is and my son is screaming to get out because he doesn’t want to ride anymore –

Own it then OM it.

When bath time takes two hours and my son just peed on the rug and my daughter asks for another sip of water every two seconds before bed –

Own it then OM it.

When I’m in the Target check-out line and my daughter is stuffing candy into her pockets and my son is already tearing through an unpurchased bag of M&M’s and my migraine just went into overload –

Own it then OM it.

When my iPhone alarm is set, but my phone is on silent and I sneeze after putting on mascara and I just find out the toilet is plugged as I sit my a** down –

Own it then OM it.

Here are some of my BEST Own it then OM it moments:

• When I look at my kids and realize how lucky I am and what a blessing they are in my life.
• When I get hugs and kisses and artwork made from noodles and the sweetest giggles from too many tickles.
• When I watch them grow and thank God for their health and cherish the milestones they reach every day.
• When I hear them say, “mom mom mom mom mom mom mom mom mom mom mom mom.”
• When I cuddle them at night and tell bedtime stories and watch them fall asleep.

This list could go on and on. I have so many more Own it then OM it moments that I couldn’t possibly write them all down!

Please comment below and share some of yours, good or bad!

Have a great weekend.

lisa