Issue link: https://fredparent.uberflip.com/i/507123
www.FredParent.NET • • • • 13 • • • • • • • 13 • • 13 Get physical. Engage in a sport or activity you enjoyed as a youth. Whether through drawing, play- ing tennis, or playing piano, using your body to do something once very familiar can be emotionally satisfying. As many women have found, mother- hood can be an all- consuming profession. but it does not have to claim our personal identity, too. Given a bit of attention and intention, we can be ourselves and mommy. And we should. Spend time around people who don't know your children. It's natural for the majority of our associ- ates during the child-rearing years to be those who play a role in our children's lives: parents of playmates, fellow PTA members, neigh borhood moms. However, this limits us to being identified as somebody's mom. When you engage with others minus the kids, you have the chance to express another side of yourself. This can be as simple as going to the gym or a Pilates class once a week. Accomplish a personal goal. We often have the sense that the world drops off at our door- step; that we have to put everything on hold for the sake of our chil- dren. but the truth is, our kids can appreciate us more when they see us making time for our- selves. And fulfilling one goal can lead to other opportunities. For Kus, engaging in music again has spawned new aspira- tions: making an album, learning how to DJ, writ- ing soundtracks. "It has opened a whole new world for me," she says. "I feel like I have come back to life, and my husband and kids have seen the change in me." Make a date — with yourself. Arrange for someone to take child duty (spouse, grandparent, friend), then escape for a day doing what you like best — reading, napping, shopping. Not sure what to do? Pick a day and jump in the car to see where it takes you. you may be surprised. Tip 2 Tip 3 Lara Krupicka is a parent- ing journalist, mother of three and author of "Bucket List Living For Moms: Become a More Adventurous Parent." Limiting our identity to one role has the potential to build resentment. Tip 4 Tip 5