Forget the look of the perfect mother for a second. When I had my son, he was a booming 7 pounds 2.9 ounces - a very healthy weight for a newborn and I was so excited and thrilled to have been able to deliver him healthily.
The first day at the hospital after delivery he latched right on - as I chose to breastfeed and took pride in being able to breastfeed him. However by the end of the second day, I was exhausted, my breasts felt chapped and sore, and I really wanted to sleep. But I didn't voice that with anyone because that's what motherhood is all about! At least that's the image that I saw growing up. Suck it up Amanda!
But when I took my bundle of love home and he wouldn't even latch onto my breast any longer, I started to get nervous. And I mean really nervous.
By his first appointment, the doctor said that he had dropped 12% of his body weight. I nearly cried in front of her.
I didn't know what to do. So to try and regain control of the situation, I bought a nipple shield and a latcher - as that would surely solve the problem! Nope. Not only did feeding him become incredibly painful but I was becoming increasingly disheartened. I started to "snap" on my husband as he would call it and I didn't want to deal with any of what I was facing.
I feared for my son's safety at this point and I felt that the doctor's were trying to keep me from going completely crazy and kept saying, "Bring him back so that we can weigh him in a few days."
By the end of his 6th day, I just about had it. I broke down in complete tears once the doctor left the office because I just didn't want to feel helpless. I felt like a bad mom and then God spoke into my ear.
He said, "Be still."
And that all too familiar voice comforted me. When I got home, I decided to give my son my complimentary gift pack of formula until I could purchase my own breastpump in the morning.
I didn't really have the money for the breastpump but I preferred to be broke with a healthy son than to be broke with a son that wasn't getting properly nourished.
So I swallowed what ever bit of pride and control that I tried to maintain over the situation and did what I didn't want to do. I fed him the darn formula and when I saw how content he was - something within me clicked.
I realized that it wasn't about me being a bad parent or trying to control everything but that I would have to make some changes in my mind if I was going to step into my destiny and build the life that I see so vividly for my family in "The Perfect Day."
I finally gave up that story of being the same old independent strong Amanda that refused to share how she feels because being distant and closed off could literally hurt my son.
That changed it for me. And so perhaps you are struggling with the first stages of motherhood too.
Maybe you don't have enough money to get your child everything that he or she needs. Maybe you work long hours only to come home and wonder how the heck are you going to manage. Or Perhaps you are at home full-time but you don't have any income coming in from your workplace during your maternity leave.
Well, that's why I encourage you to take a step of faith and punch fear in the face for a second. I would love to speak to you about how you could start earning your way towards building a life by design where you don't have to think about where your next check is going to come from or how much you will have to hold back for your family or yourself.
I believe in freedom. I believe that my son is worth the tough days right now because I am working towards building our future.
I made a decision that I will never go back to a job as long as I live and that I will retire my husband as I live. Perhaps you have a similar desire to be job-free and stay home with your family. But you don't know how you are going to do it.
And so I invite you to learn more about the opportunity that was presented to me in order to do just that.
This is opportunity knocking on your door.
The Perfect Day
Just recently, I read a book that really put things (life/work/business) in perspective for me. It told me to write out my perfect day. This ONE exercise has shaped my business and my life forever and so I would like to share it with you.
In MY perfect day I wake up in my 5000 foot California ranch house with my newborn son and husband next to me in perfect bliss. The sun rise is visible through our balcony window.
Now before I continue, this part had me BAWLING my eyes out! Why? Because it REALLY hit me. I don't ever (underline ever one million times) want to leave my son to go back to a 9-5 job as long as I am breathing on this planet called Earth.
In my perfect day I wake up and make breakfast with my husband as we discuss how God has been absolutely amazing to us. We blast our favorite song "Touch the Sky" by Hillsong United singing praises to our King dancing and twirling around in absolute love teary eyed.
We prepare for breakfast and open our refrigerator to a fully stocked refrigerator with everything that we need for the week - organic fruits, organic vegetables, hormone-free meat, almond coconut milk, organic lemonade tea, cage free eggs, and whatever else we want for THAT particular week.
I check my mailbox and collect my weekly check and forward 10% straight to Joyce Meyer Ministries for the investment of love in my life over the years as a tithe and another 5% as a partner.
After breakfast we take our son for a walk along our ranch - where he sits in amazement at all of the wonderful things that God has bestowed upon us.
After our morning walk, we take a ride in our Buick Enclave 2015 to visit grandma with a check of $5000, a couple dozen roses, her favorite trailmix - oh how she LOVES trailmix - and take her to the car dealership to pay off the remaining balance due on her car.
Once we return from the dealership, we take a drive to my nonprofit organization center in Philadelphia that has been fully funded by business and check on the citywide beautification project.
After checking in with my nonprofit, my husband, son, and I return home for pure relaxation time. We watch our favorite movie in our home theater. After family time, my husband and I place our son down for his nap and I check in with my network of 45,000 home-business owners, distributors, and send out an email to my list of 50,000 customers with a heartfelt thank you.
It is only 1pm now in my perfect day. We woke up at sunrise. We all take a family nap. When we wake up its lunch time and we head out to have a picnic. Our grandparents meet us at the picnic where we have our family photographer capture every smile, laugh, and hug.
After our picnic, my husband takes my son for personal daddy and son time.
I head over to the spa and get my hair done, my nails done, and makeup done for late night Bible Study with some of our dearest friends that we've met as a result of our business.
I am at the spa for 2 hours and my hair and nails take a combined 2 hours. I leave the salon and head home. It is now 5:30pm. My husband calls our guests over to the dining room for a meal. My husband is a new chef-in-training that is preparing a complete spread for our guests and their children. He put on roasted chicken with roasted lemon and pepper garlic potatoes and peach cobbler for dessert. He baked sticky honey chicken wings and sweet potato fries with cinnamon for the kids with fruit kabobs. He also makes my all-time favorite lemonade from scratch!
At 7pm everyone comes over and we go over the book of Proverbs and King Solomon's wisdom principles. The study lasts an hour and everyone eats and goes home.
I feed my son and put him to bed. My husband and I pop in our workout and complete 30 minutes with Tony Horton. After our workout, we wind down with a cool shower and get back into bed.
Creating my perfect day did a few things for me:
#1 - It showed me what makes me CRY. - being there for my son at all times
#2 - It showed me what I truly care about. - my faith/my family/my relationships/my environment/my causes
#3- It reignited that burning desire and relentlessness within.
What does the perfect day look like for you? Are you currently on a road to get there? Does your life look like mine and you have a son or a daughter that you cannot bear the thought of leaving for a job?
I'd love to hear from you. Comment below.
In MY perfect day I wake up in my 5000 foot California ranch house with my newborn son and husband next to me in perfect bliss. The sun rise is visible through our balcony window.
Now before I continue, this part had me BAWLING my eyes out! Why? Because it REALLY hit me. I don't ever (underline ever one million times) want to leave my son to go back to a 9-5 job as long as I am breathing on this planet called Earth.
In my perfect day I wake up and make breakfast with my husband as we discuss how God has been absolutely amazing to us. We blast our favorite song "Touch the Sky" by Hillsong United singing praises to our King dancing and twirling around in absolute love teary eyed.
We prepare for breakfast and open our refrigerator to a fully stocked refrigerator with everything that we need for the week - organic fruits, organic vegetables, hormone-free meat, almond coconut milk, organic lemonade tea, cage free eggs, and whatever else we want for THAT particular week.
I check my mailbox and collect my weekly check and forward 10% straight to Joyce Meyer Ministries for the investment of love in my life over the years as a tithe and another 5% as a partner.
After breakfast we take our son for a walk along our ranch - where he sits in amazement at all of the wonderful things that God has bestowed upon us.
After our morning walk, we take a ride in our Buick Enclave 2015 to visit grandma with a check of $5000, a couple dozen roses, her favorite trailmix - oh how she LOVES trailmix - and take her to the car dealership to pay off the remaining balance due on her car.
Once we return from the dealership, we take a drive to my nonprofit organization center in Philadelphia that has been fully funded by business and check on the citywide beautification project.
After checking in with my nonprofit, my husband, son, and I return home for pure relaxation time. We watch our favorite movie in our home theater. After family time, my husband and I place our son down for his nap and I check in with my network of 45,000 home-business owners, distributors, and send out an email to my list of 50,000 customers with a heartfelt thank you.
It is only 1pm now in my perfect day. We woke up at sunrise. We all take a family nap. When we wake up its lunch time and we head out to have a picnic. Our grandparents meet us at the picnic where we have our family photographer capture every smile, laugh, and hug.
After our picnic, my husband takes my son for personal daddy and son time.
I head over to the spa and get my hair done, my nails done, and makeup done for late night Bible Study with some of our dearest friends that we've met as a result of our business.
I am at the spa for 2 hours and my hair and nails take a combined 2 hours. I leave the salon and head home. It is now 5:30pm. My husband calls our guests over to the dining room for a meal. My husband is a new chef-in-training that is preparing a complete spread for our guests and their children. He put on roasted chicken with roasted lemon and pepper garlic potatoes and peach cobbler for dessert. He baked sticky honey chicken wings and sweet potato fries with cinnamon for the kids with fruit kabobs. He also makes my all-time favorite lemonade from scratch!
At 7pm everyone comes over and we go over the book of Proverbs and King Solomon's wisdom principles. The study lasts an hour and everyone eats and goes home.
I feed my son and put him to bed. My husband and I pop in our workout and complete 30 minutes with Tony Horton. After our workout, we wind down with a cool shower and get back into bed.
Creating my perfect day did a few things for me:
#1 - It showed me what makes me CRY. - being there for my son at all times
#2 - It showed me what I truly care about. - my faith/my family/my relationships/my environment/my causes
#3- It reignited that burning desire and relentlessness within.
What does the perfect day look like for you? Are you currently on a road to get there? Does your life look like mine and you have a son or a daughter that you cannot bear the thought of leaving for a job?
I'd love to hear from you. Comment below.
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