I'm at the airport waiting for a flight. I realize it's early (6:30am) and that not everyone likes morning (myself included!), but the people watching at the airport is eye-opening.

It's easy to let being a mom control your life and make mom feel like she doesn't matter anymore. Once you have kids, it can feel like your life is no longer your own. Plus, being busier, it's easy to let yourself slide. I speak from experience.

Looking around, I see so many women who clearly don't care. I'm all for easy. I don't prim or fuss much myself, but you have to care. I'm not suggesting you need to dress like your going out to dinner just to take the garbage out.

It's a like a rat on a wheel. You gain a few pounds after you have a baby and since the focus is on the baby, you forget about you. Now, I should mention that if you're one of those lucky women who bounces back to a size 2 after pregnancy, you probably can stop reading this post. Oh and by the way, I admit that I'm jealous and you make me mad. For those of you less fortunate, like me, I'll get back to my rat theory. So you gain a few pounds, you feel crabby and depressed so you allow yourself to eat more than you should. Since your busy with a child, you have less time so you don't exercise as much then you gain more weight. Since you're a little chubbier you wear ill-fitting clothes (maybe too big to hid or to tight because you don't want to admit you're a little chunky or buy new clothes) so you start to feel yucky and depressed, then you allow yourself that extra cookie... You get the idea.

Looking around, I see so many people who just look bad. Frompy. Unhappy. This is a challenging time, the mommy years, but it's also an amazing time. Our kids will grow up and we will have more time than things to do. Yet, we need to have balance. Our children need us to be balanced, to be happy with who we are and to respect ourselves. We are their example.

I'm not suggesting to get snazzed up for impressing the world as you stroll through the airport, take care of yourself for you. On either extreme, putting kids in constant childcare so you can hit the gym is just as damaging as neglect. Balance is the key to finding contentment with who you are and only then will you enjoy life.

Do something for you, a happy mom, a happy son. Our sons should see a female role who is happy with herself.

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