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Rita Chidinma: Dear Young Mothers, Your Dreams Matter!
To all young mothers, holding their homes down and still chasing after their own dreams, we see you and are proud of you! Don’t also forget to encourage other young mothers around you. A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.
Before marriage and children, there were some things you wanted to do with your life, right? Maybe you wanted to become a fashion designer, or a baker, or start up an online business or get that job, or go back to school for a higher degree, but now you find it so difficult getting all your responsibilities done before the end of every day. The kids are so young and active that you just can’t find the strength to do anything else apart from looking after them. Every day you look through social media and can’t help but feel deflated because other people seem to have their shit together and you’re struggling. You look at those career moms and mumprenuers and wonder if they have two heads. Well guess what? We’re all just winging it.
I don’t think any young mom at all has it all together without a few challenges here and there. However the thing about those other young moms is that they’ve decided to work it out, every day. They’ve decided to give their dreams a shot despite having so much on their plate. They’ve also probably failed a couple of times but have never given up. So why can’t you? Ignore that little voice that keeps saying you can’t do it or you’re not good enough. If learning how to design outfits is your dream, then go for it! If you want to get a job, then start applying.
Your dreams matter.
You may encounter so many challenges along the way but trust me your future self will thank you for putting in the effort. Instead of scrolling aimlessly on social media, you could use that time to search and follow other young women with kids that are still chasing after their dreams and pages or WhatsApp groups where moms like you gather to discuss stuff, trust me you’ll learn a thing or two and gradually, you’ll start having a mind shift. Stop looking around for fanfare or a pat at the back for working so hard with the kids, of course you’re doing great but be your own cheer leader and go after what you want, even if you don’t succeed the first time, don’t give up! If all the successful women we know today gave up after encountering challenges, then they wouldn’t be where they are today, would they?
Don’t shut yourself in from the world, go out there and make something of yourself.
So many young women with great potentials get married and that becomes the end, literally. Don’t be the woman that says “oh I wanted to practice law but then I got married” “oh I want to start a small business but I’m so busy with the kids”. Don’t get me wrong, there’s absolutely nothing wrong if staying home and doing nothing else other than taking care of the kids is your own decision.
This post is for the young moms who would honestly like to do more and become more. But think about it though, even the moms that stay at home 24-7 use their time to learn valuable skills and eventually start operating businesses right from the comfort of their homes. So what’s your excuse?
To all young mothers, holding their homes down and still chasing after their own dreams, we see you and are proud of you! Don’t also forget to encourage other young mothers around you. A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.
You are loved. xx
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