I hope I’m Still In There….
I looked at myself in the mirror, just like I do through this dirty windshield, and I don’t recognize myself anymore. I’m still somewhere in there under the grease stains from supper, the sweaty frizzy hair from chasing children, crusty dog drool caked on my pants from the puppy drool of the puppy our family just had to have, a full time working mom who tried to balance a passionate profession for a compromise with taking a job for her family’s schedule. I’m still in there. Behind the dry scalp, the same bra I’ve had for 10 years, despite my children having new shoes, underwear, and clothing every single year, I’m still in there. Worn out, 40 pounds heavier, underneath the wrinkles, the bags under my eyes, I want to believe I’m still in there, I’m lost, but I’m still in there. Career grief consumes me, un engaged parents and abandonment consume me, my childhood trauma still consumes me at 35. But somewhere, somehow I think I’m still in there? I know this time is precious with my children, I know my partner would be lost without me accommodating my professional career for their work schedule and my family life, but somewhere, somehow, I think I’m still in there. Once vibrant, full of laughter, full of being a free spirit, full of life, she was there. I was there. I miss her, I hope I’m still in there. #Motherhood #exhausted #MentalHealth #Trauma #Anxiety #SuicidalIdeation #Depression
