Page 22 - The Villager May 2021

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Lifestyle

Don’t be a martyr. No one you have, and the more rewarding was an over-emphasis on achieving
4. appreciates a martyr. In fact, the relationships that you establish academically and on the sports fields.
outsiders see a martyr’s problems as and maintain, the more precious your That’s often why we put ourselves in
self-inflicted tribulations and you’ll get memories will be. If you keep building stressful situations that cause us to be
very little sympathy for pushing yourself on that foundation, with bricks of joy, impatient, judgemental and sometimes
to the point of exhaustion. Leave some satisfaction and gratitude, your life will downright mean. But motherhood isn’t
things for someone else to do. Feeling be rich beyond measure. only about us and what we want to
resentful because you’re finding so Remember, it’s the little things personally achieve in life. Motherhood
much rests entirely on your shoulders 6. that will be remembered most. is about nurturing and guiding those
takes a lot of energy. Let go of the stress This pendulum swings both ways. highly-impressionable and precious lives
and resentment and you’ll find you’ll When the chips are down and you give that have been entrusted to us. Little
be able to enjoy and appreciate what your partner or child a hug, and a few people, in particular, will remember the
others are willing to do to help. minutes of your time to calmly talk small things – being unjustly accused
Think of all the things you through a situation that has upset them, of doing something that they actually
5. did right – today, this week, they will remember how you comforted didn’t do, being shouted at for breaking
so far this year – what went well for them long after the moment has passed. a glass or for bringing mud into the
you? To get this into perspective, you However, if you have a quick temper (like house, or when they were ignored when
need to understand that, actually, your I did when my kids were young), your they had hurt themselves. What helps is
life is a collection of all the memories, rage and cruel remarks will cut them to live more ‘in the moment’ whenever
emotions, and positive and negative to the core. You’ll get over your temper you’re with your family. Be more aware
experiences that you’ve had to date. tantrum, but will their scars ever really of what’s going on in their lives. And in
The more positive experiences you heal? For a lot of us channelled through return, they will learn to cherish their
have, the more fulfilling moments that traditional schooling systems, there time with you.

To all the Moms and Grannies of Irene Farm Villages,

here’s hoping you have an awesome

Mother’s Day

this year.

20 • Issue 5 2021 • The Villager