Lost Your Sense Of Identity While Raising A Family? Here's Four Ways To Find It

If you're like most moms, you wouldn't trade your children for anything — even though on some days, you might be tempted. Still, there are times when you miss the person you used to be before the kids came along, and this is only natural. After all, those were the days when you took bubble baths rather than two-minute showers, enjoyed long weekend lunches and happy hours with friends, and were able to relax and watch a movie from start to finish. While you'll probably never completely regain the carefree days and nights of your life before children became a part of the picture, you can nonetheless bring back some of the old magic as well as create new magic.

Following are four things that you can do to regain a sense of your identity when struggling with the day-to-day demands of raising a family.

Learn Something New

Learning something new helps people expand their horizons, sparks imaginations, and decreases the feeling of being in a rut caused by the necessity to stick with the strict routines involved in raising a family. You can take a class in something you've always been interested in either through a local college or online, or you can simply explore an interest on your own. Learning new things has never been easier than it is now because of the wealth of accessible information on the internet.

Jump-Start Your Social Life

Parenthood causes most people to shift their priorities, and they often leave certain friends behind as a result. They often lose contact with their old group, particularly if most of the members have stayed single. This is normal and natural, but it can leave parents feeling isolated if those social contacts aren't replaced. Making new friends helps get your social interactive needs met, but it's not always so easy to do when your days and nights are filled with caring for a family. Be sure to go a little out of your way to reach out to others, particularly other moms you might meet at the park or at your children's preschools or schools. After all, many of them are probably in the same boat as you are. 

Many moms in your position frequently find themselves automatically turning down social invitations, but rethinking this may make you happier. You don't have to accept every invitation, but there shouldn't be any reason why your partner can't pull parent duty while you meet a friend for coffee or go to a gallery opening.

Join a Gym

Exercise makes everyone feel better, and as an added bonus, you'll be mentally and physically healthier as well. Better yet, many gyms offer on-site child care, so you won't have to schedule your visits to the gym around your spouse's schedule or hire a babysitter. Working out will also help you regain the body you had before you had children. 

Get a Mommy Makeover

Mommy makeovers are procedures designed to restore a woman's pre-baby appearance. They typically include breast lifts or augmentation, buttock augmentation, liposuction, and tummy tucks. Your surgeon will work with you to determine your individual needs and preferences and provide you with a customized makeover. Most mommy makeovers are single-stage procedures rather than a series of individual procedures. You're a good candidate for a mommy makeover if you're in good health, don't smoke, and are pretty sure that there will be no more additions to your family. Also, keep in mind that mommy makeovers aren't meant to be weight loss solutions — they're best for people who are already at a normal weight and maintain a reasonable level of fitness. Learn more from a center such as Dr. Marcos Cosmetic Surgery and MedSpa.

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