"Putting God first in everything I do as a mother has helped with my balance" Etonde Akamangwa

     I am a mother of two girls and know what it means to be raising kids in America. Finding a balance with husband, kids and work can be very draining to our souls.I was blessed to be in a church that had a MOPS group and this changed my perspective about motherhood. I was able to hang out with real women like me facing the same challenges. Things even got better when I became a steering theme member. Learning how to help and encourage other mothers became a blessing to me.

 











          


When I first read of this blog nomamipikinleftbehind the MOPS concept played in my brain. It is very important as mothers to encourage each other through this very different yet, blessed season of life.  Putting God first in everything I do as a mother has helped with my balance. Learning to love and forgive my husband a thousand times make life easier. Knowing that my husband comes before my kids is very important in this season of life. God<husband<kids.

           Taking time off away from the kids with your husband is very important in keeping this balance. Oh yes, I mean drop the kids and go for a weekend. Money spent on babysitting, is money well spent in investing in your marriage.I go ahead and plan a getaway because waiting on my husband can take forever. I tell you, if you make him have fun like before kids, he will be the one arranging for the next getaway :-). I've learned that my kids are not stress as most mothers say. Instead, motherhood brings about stress due to the challenges of finding a balance.  "So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?" (Ecclesiastes 3:22 NIV)

            I look at this season in my life as a blessing and try to enjoy it day by day despite the mommy mommy mommy, screaming, diaper changing, vomits yet, lots of laugher they bring.Investing time and building strong relationships with my kids is what matters most to me. They have no other mother but me and only God knows how long I have with them. 

          Finally, exercise has helped me gain a new look in life. I've taken a conscious decision to stay healthy for my husband and kids. I am one of those who look at food and gain weight lol!  I had to learn how to eat again after the pregnancy because the cravings stayed. I exercise because need to take care of the body God has blessed me with. Also, to have energy to run after my kids. I'm not trying to be a size 2, but trying to model good eating habits and a lifestyle change to my kids.

Celebrate YOU "this is me, I love me" Campaign Pt 1

#nomamipikinleftbehind
Happy MOTHERS MONTH to all my LOVELY "MAMIPIKINS" 

    So women hide behind expensive weaves, tons of make up, and a whole lot of cover ups, as they go through huge self esteem problems. We even go to the extend of hating those around us that seem to be happy and contented with themselves. I have  noticed that low self esteem is the root to so many issues that the mothers in my immediate community face. We refuse to accept and love ourselves flaws and all, we hope that by running the next woman down we can look better. It starts by being able to see the best in YOU, the best on the INSIDE.

"You have got to LOVE YOU, SO YOU CAN LOVE YOU!"

  The minute you can come bare before the world and its critics, you are on your way to loving you regardless of anyone else's opinion. 

Here with our first set of  mothers in our "this is me, I love me" campaign.

 My life. Not the life others would like me to live the life I was created to live. I don't follow trends, I don't copy no one (well unless u r Angelina Jolie), I just do me.... like me or hate me i am me, I like me, and I am a whole Lotta woman.
 Adija

Always in a pensive state...that's me! What makes me unique? There is no one on this planet Earth who can be Cynthia Tabe. My thoughts, my actions, my decisions, my ideas, my mannerisms, my traits, my strengths, my weaknesses, my views, my style, my loves, my dislikes, my hurt, my pain, my laughter...unique to moi!

               Cynthia 

   I respect myself and others, i love the good and bad people, am down to earth, i stay at the back end of things, because i learn more and correct my self before going to the top, my heart is pure , am not proud but I am me, since God gave me most of what i myself wished for,i appreciate every little thing, I pray jealousy doesn't visit or know my territory, Lastly I am a mother, to my daughter and many more , i dont know all but i know better,i love my self so much, i love the good and bad people,i love all.

Delphine 

I'm passionate about is family.  My kids, my husband,  my parents,  siblings,  cousins,  aunts, and uncles. That's what makes me come alive.

Smiles  

The JOY in my heart supersedes any human imagination. My God has blessed me exceedingly abundantly, that my cup runneth over...!!! THE FEAR OF THE LORD ENHANCES MY INNER BEAUTY.... I also know that the GRACE of God upon my life got me smiling even in the storms. I'm blessed with the BEST family ever.... All these goodies, got me glowing inside...!!!!

Ebot  

It starts with YOU, do you LOVE YOU enough?

In honor of 〰mothers day〰 we will are  doing a "this is me, I love me" campaign, It will run for the entire month of May, so keep the pictures coming.  

Let #nomamipikinbeleftbehind!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

This walk is PERSONAL

#nomamipikinleftbehind

       Everybody can't grow at the same rate. We must take our own walk and grow at our own pace. The best way to explain how different we are is by using the childbirth and labor analogy. Every woman goes through Labor and childbirth quite different from the next. Some women go through 24 hours of labor and others 4, some women can endure the labor pain and others need an epidural. Some women need a c-section and others can go through regular vaginal birth. This is exactly how life is, your vision needs to be born when its ready, just like childbirth you cannot rush it,you cannot pray for it to come earlier than God has it planned out. Don't spend the greater part of your life praying for half a vision. This applies in every single aspect of our lives.

     If you feel like things are taking too long, stop and look back at Labor, ask yourself what stage of labor could this vision be in? Am i asking for a baby to be born during braxton hicks contractions? Am i asking for a baby when i am not yet dilated? Am i asking for a baby when her lungs are not fully developed? What is the rush? Let Go and Let God, dont let anyone around you determine your pace. This walk is personal.

Let #nomamipikin be left behind!

    My kids want to know how come i never play any American music in my car?  I don't know either? How do they come up with these questions??????

Kisses,