Written by Ageless Moms on May 26th, 2009
With the kind of activities that we have lined up for our kids and the schedule we have at work, who’s got time to think about hair these days? It may seem as though the moment motherhood entered our lives, the central point of our Universe revolves around the people we care for – so what if we go out to the shopping mall with hair sticking out all over the place? You may not think anyone cares about it but you’ll be surprised at who is getting the short end of the deal.
You, of course.
You need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others – but of course you’ve heard that. Having split ends is one of the most common problems for mothers because we no longer have the luxurious time or energy to spend at hair salon or treat our hair to a well-deserved mask. It’s true that we often go for the easiest and quickest solution….which is to snip them off. However, snipping them off is not the only solution; you can prevent split ends and control them to a certain extent. For example, treat your hair well and find out the hair type you have. Some people have thinner and more brittle hair than others. This type of hair tends to break easily, at the slightest tug will cause the hair to break. Heat, permanent coloring, hair dyes, straighteners and styling fluids all cause some form of damage to the hair. They may make your hair look good for a while but the damage is there. When the kids have gone to bed and the husband is sitting out on the couch surfing channels, take the time to treat your hair to gentle emollients like shea butter or coconut oil. These are natural remedies; despite the fact that they may leave remnants in the hair (nothing a good, thorough wash can’t fix) or may not smell as appealing to you at the end of the day, at the very least, it will keep your hair and scalp healthy.
Most mothers like us tend to keep our hair tied up because it’s just impractical to have long hair that is all over the place while we cook or when we’re trying to beat the after work traffic home to pick the kids up. I don’t understand the reason why you have to do that but try not to tie your hair in braids because braids, unless you have really thick, strong hair, causes more damage than a ponytail. Keep it loose and easy if you have to keep your hair away from your face.
I encourage coloring of hair too because it gives moms confidence. Drab hair can claw away at your confidence level, actually, as much as blotchy skin can, so, if you have to color your hair, try going for henna which smoothes out and enriches your hair while coloring it. Henna, I’ll admit, don’t last as long as other forms of stronger chemical-based coloring but at the end of the day, it’s safer. The way to keep split ends at bay is to keep it healthy and strong but also make an appointment with your hair stylist once a month to snip a little bit off the edges. Some moms trim their own hair but I wouldn’t do it if I had a layered hair style.
Written by Ageless Moms on May 16th, 2009
“A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.” —
Tenneva Jordan
For many years after chancing upon the above quote, it never quite touched me. It was, to me then, a really good quote but the significance and accuracy of the statement above never quite touched my heart until I became a mother myself. It’s true….you don’t see the sacrifices made until you have to start sacrificing yourself. A mother is someone who would truly give everything and anything that she is capable of reaching to the people whom she loves. Life as a mother is, indeed, a rough one but it is an immeasurably rewarding one.
“At work, you think of the children you have left at home. At home, you think of the work you’ve left unfinished. Such a struggle is unleashed within yourself. Your heart is rent.” —
Golda Meir
The above quote rings true, painfully so I believe, for moms who have to work outside of home to earn an income for the family. Leaving the kids home while going out to earn an income could be one of the biggest obstacles would have to climb, a decision she dreads every day, and a regret that makes her cry every night. If she had it her way, she would like to have both but if she had to choose, she would pick her children above everything else….including herself.
“There was never a great man who had not a great mother — it is hardly an exaggeration.” —
Olive Schreiner
There can never be a shred of doubt when it comes to the role a mother plays in the lives of her children…especially during their formative years. Without the bond and communication that is so essential for their emotional growth, the impact can be significant.
“It is not until you become a mother than your judgment slowly turns to compassion and understanding.” —
Erma Bombeck
Even if you’re not one of them, you probably know someone who was the rebel who fought against every advice, tip or concern that a mother issued him or her. The above quote merely highlights this fact.
No one will understand what being a mother is like…the pain, the worry, the anxiety, the stress, the overwhelming feeling of being loved, the emotional turmoil…none of all that can be ‘felt’ or ‘seen’ before motherhood becomes your occupation. It’s only when you become a mother that you will find a significant parallel between your life as a mother and the life that your mother led when you were younger. Then, and only then, will the truth sinks in.
And in the meantime, the mother sits back and waits with worry, with hope and intense love, lingering around for the realization and return of her children.
Written by Ageless Moms on May 13th, 2009
Before I became a mom, I was a gym fanatic. The importance of gym cast a dark shadow over other responsibilities and issues. After a stressful day of working at the computer, screaming into the phone, tapping angry emails and attending countless meetings, the gym was a form of release for me. I think it helped me and other mothers like me stay sane and youthful, both inside and out.
In the same way, exercise can help kids too….but in another way and that is to help them release pent-up tension, anger and be more balanced. Mothers will soon see a change in the way that their kids behave when they exercise after school. On top of becoming fitter, they’re also less likely to throw a tantrum, cause trouble in school or hit out at other kids in the park. In other words, the edge is taken off of their aggressive ways.
After a good workout, we are in a better mood and is less likely to press down on the horn when driving. We’re in a better position to deal with our anger too. A study done by the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta suggests that kids and moms don’t lose their cool as much after a good exercise…the effect can, sometimes, be seen for days on end. (more…)
