Take Your Hat Off.


I

‘ve found myself again. I didn’t even know I was lost.

I’ve been so caught up in everything else that I forgot about me. I think these few days have been so good for my soul. I feel nourished, and light. I know that’s deep and it sounds odd… but it is what it is really.

Being a Mum is the most wonderful aspect of my life. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done, the best thing I’ve ever done, and it’s completely consuming. More than I realised.

I was driving along yesterday and it was peak hour as everyone was trying to get to work in the morning. I started to get anxious and started to try and figure out a new, faster route so that Lacey wouldn’t get upset and cranky {she’s not the biggest fan of the car}. And then I realised, it’s okay. I’m alone. It doesn’t matter if I’m stuck in traffic. And so I stayed on the main road, turned up the radio and had a little car-karaoke-session.

I went to the markets to pick up some supplies for work and one of the ladies that I see every week told me that I looked really good and fresh. I felt that way too.

It’s been nice to know the me again, without my Mummy or Wife hat on.

I know being a Mummy/Wife/Employee/Employer/Friend etc is a big part of who we are. But when you take off those hats… who are you?

I’d love for you to share in the comments about you. Tell me about you… without mentioning what you do, or who you’re married to, or anything like that. What do you love? What are you passionate about? Who are you?

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23 thoughts on “Take Your Hat Off.”

  1. I'm glad you've been able to let go a bit and enjoy being you for a few days.
    You know, I have no idea what I love to do anymore. My life is also very taken up by other things that I've had no time for hobbies or interests. Maybe this is a good time to start!

  2. Chantelle, I could write a whole blog about this very issue. I'm glad you feel fresh…..

    I'm the girl that hip bumps to music, that loves feeling wind on her face, that loves this “getting skinny” feeling, that loves to grin. I am the girl that has grace and poise and dignity. That wears killer perfume, killer shoes and killer handbags.

    They are all the things I revel in when I am having my “role free” fresh days. xx

  3. I really 'get' this post!! You get lost without ever realising it.
    Me – I'm that quiet but creative person who loves to go out for coffee with friends, window shop, read, watch movies and ponder the reasons behind things 🙂

  4. I am a woman, who is strong and I am not talking about physically. I am kind & giving & open. I share, myself, my time, my love.

    I have a love affair with good food, good wine & good coffee. In fact wine is my only 'me' hobby! I collect it, I read about it, I study it.

    Going for a run, listening to my ipod sets me free from being a mum/wife for an hour a day and helps me to just enjoy the moment of being me, the girl who loves fresh air, exercise and dance music!

  5. Who am I?

    Wow. It's like you knew exactly what I am going through at the moment. This post is more fitting to me than you can ever think.

    I am trying to find out who I am. Its the reason I started blogging and the reason I am finally doing something to lose weight.

    Maybe one day I will work out who I am. Maybe those around me will somehow give me the freedom to work out who I am.

    My plan is to go into my 30's with a better understanding of who I am without my mum, wife, sister, daughter hats. To get to that raw level of self.

    I have 4 mths! LOL It would be nice to enter June a better version of me. It would be nice.

    Great post (I totally understand the traffic issue! Mine starts crying when the car stops so I would rather take another route that takes me 20min then wait in traffic for 5!)

  6. Hi 🙂 I love going to car boot sales. One in particular that is massive. Once a month I take off by myself at the crack of dawn and buy others peoples stuff. I love the thrill of a bargain. Then having a coffee/bacon and eggs alone reading the Sunday paper. This recharges me. 🙂 I love your blog

  7. oh im so happy you feel this way! i knew you would though because i know that feeling so well… of course you miss your people but how good does it feel to sing loud stuck in traffic rather than try and distract a little person… always having to chat constantly when you just want the music loud can be exhausting!

    enjoy your moments this week because your family will be back in no time and life will go back to normal but for you to have had a glimpse of who you are… that nourishes the soul and that feeling will stay with you for sometime. rowe x

  8. How exciting for you!

    I thought I had a pretty good idea of who I was, but starting my French lessons at the Alliance Francais has given me a whole new boost.

    I love to dance, to giggle and to uncover surprising treasures in op-shops.

    Tomorrow night my husband's away for the weekend and my daughter's having a sleepover so I'll have my first night on my own in around 15 years. I'm going SOLO to the movies and will come home, do my nails while the music's up loud and just revel in the novelty of being home alone.

  9. According to my Facebook page, I am woman hear me roar.

    But really? I'm a mum that likes to whip that hat off on weekends while my partner's about. To go to yoga. Read the weekend papers in a lovely quiet house with a coffee. Or visit the my local Vinnies depot to buy knick knacks.

  10. I love that you're beginning to really enjoy some time-out. We all need it that's for sure. I particularly love the car singing – it's a great way to spend time in the car hehehe

    I love to cook – and specifically I love to listen to dancy top 40 music LOUD while I cook 😉 I also love to eat – eating out is one of my favourite things to do.

    I love the fresh air, peace and quiet (yet i live in the city). I love to shop – retail therapy is my vice of choice (combined with chocolate).

    Have a lovely lovely day.
    xxx

  11. sounds like a great moment, i always sing too….guess we get lost under all the titles of who we are meant to be – mum, wife, sister, friend, daughter, employee….i try so hard to have some ME time as guilty as I might get, its my special time to be just me…now that my boys are both at school i have 2 whole days to myself each week – i craft, i watch cooking shows, i bake or go for a walk, just ponder around or have a coffee with my sister or friend – I do what I feel like doing! its great!

  12. Oh, Chantelle, you've really touched a nerve here for so many of us. I have just written a post called 'where did I go?' about this very thing. About what makes me tick. About who I am and who I have always been. But I can't find it anymore. I haven't published it because I was worried it was a bit 'woe is me', but I'm going to now. I think it's important. You are a clever (and beautiful!) woman. Congrats on finding yourself again.xx

  13. I really like this post. Really really really like it.

    Before I had my bubba I thought I was young, fun, energetic, sexy, creative, social and loud.
    After I had my bubba I didn't think any of those applied to me anymore. I felt I was just mum. maybe a little crazy, but just mum.
    I've recently discovered I'm still the me I was before, I was just distracted by the new element of my life.
    So, I AM young, fun, energetic, sexy, creative, social, loud and a fantastic mum!

  14. Hi Telle

    I think this post will resonate with a lot of your readers – it did for me.

    I am a traveller – a free spirit on the inside who never has the courage to dress like it on the outside lol

    I love to read, to watch world movies to escape into other worlds.

    I love everything beautiful.

    I love sunsets and photography and foot rubs.

    I love learning something new.I'm loyal and a good listener. I am opinionated and hate dancing.

    I wish I had more time to paint my nails.

    I'm a fantastic mum

  15. It's a great feeling when you find yourself again… One of the hardest things in life is not just knowing who we are, but not losing ourselves!
    My blog is mainly about me finding out who I am again, and publishing so I know I'll have somewhere to come back to at the times I get lost…

    Who am I?
    I am the one who believes in staying true to yourself,

    I am the one who will always be there for my friends and family,

    I am the one who can put on many hats and function in any situation (just about)

    I am the one to catch a moment in a photo that would otherwise be missed and forgotten, the moment that captures a person in their most natural and honest moment.

    I love to be in love, but am too scared to lately.

    I am the one who can't hide what she thinks or feels in her eyes… They are the only peep hole into who I am when I have a guard up.

    I am the shoulder, the tissue, the ears, the pillar, the hand, the side kick, the laugh, the trust, the loyalty, the strength, to all around me…

    I don't consider these as “hats” or roles, as they represent who I am as a person…

  16. Truthfully I have no idea who I am anymore. The Mommy and Wife role has taken over my existence. I can tell you who I used to be. I used to be a wild, fun, party girl. Love tatoos and crazy funky hair. Love my men with tatoos and a little bit of bad boy, but not enough that they are bad to me. Love a good party. Love, love, love to talk to people. I was a downright peppy, happy person. These days I have four kids and a husband and I have disappeared. Given the chance I have no idea what I would be like anymore. I sure would like to find out!! Geez, I think I need a vacation!!! Lol…sorry if I sounded a bit to serious, but my kids are 7, 4, 22 months, and 2 months old. I'm sure you can see how a girl might lose herself!!

  17. I've just been thinking about this too, which is why I wrote that post on being creative every day. 🙂 That's definitely the favourite part of 'me'. 😀

  18. This was a fantastic post! I'm so glad you remembered yourself.

    As for me, I love reading whether it be magazines, silly romance novels, or book club literature. I love to read blogs and get loads of inspiration and ideas that I will probably never execute 🙂
    Just starting my blog as well, check it out if you will!

    http://nikkithy.blogspot.com/

  19. are you sure you are not in my brain, reading my thoughts in some science fiction type scenario??????

    I have no idea who I am anymore either. i can relate to so many others comments here.

    I am going to use this time I have off work on mat leave to find out.

  20. Thank you all so much for being so so open and honest.

    I realise how important this is, and something most Mum's/women struggle to do… keep a little part of their real self alive.

    I am going to make a real affort to be me, and nurture that, and hope we can all find time to do things we love. xx

  21. It sounds like it wasn't only your hubby and daughter who had a holiday, your self recdiscovery sounds wonderful 🙂 .

    I'm only just starting to rediscover myself but I'm love kids and teaching kids. I love art and sketching and painting. I'm lost without a book in my hands or a movie to watch. I get a thrill out of being frugal and think there is no better activiy than perusing op shops for treasure and bargains. I walk around with my head in the clouds dreaming of all the things I'm yet to do and am planning for the future. And I love to blog and come out of my introverted body as an extrovert online 🙂

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