Investing

Not on stocks, not on trust funds, not on anything money related. To give you an idea, just look at the titles of my “to reads”:



From top to bottom: 1. When did I get like this? by Amy Wilson 2. The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp 3. Buddha never raised kids & Jesus didn’t drive carpool by Vickie Falcone  4. Mommy Wars by Leslie Morgan Steiner.


Truth be told, I am investing on these books for my sanity but it’s more pleasing to read that I am actually investing on becoming a better parent, which really is in the long run.

These books are my lifesavers or to put it in a literal way, my sanity savers. There have been one too many days that I felt all dried up inside and out and I just need a few minutes to reorganize my thoughts, to reenergize and refocus on the goal.

But, I don’t have the luxury of time nowadays. I once sat at McDonald’s reading Mommy Wars eating Cheeseburger with upsized Coke and Fries without a care in the world, until my cell phone alarm went off an hour after I left the house. Yes, I set that alarm and yes, I only allow an hour every week for some “me” time.

I know it's not enough but that's the best that I can do given the full load of work at home. I am a first time mom, just learning how to be one each day and I know that I need all the help that I can get. But, most of the other moms I know are working and (no offense meant) when they tell me they understand why some days I post FB statuses like I’m mad at the entire universe or they understood why I am dead tired at the end of the day – I doubt that they really understood.

Reading is my only consolation, my retribution and I am learning a lot from it. I'd like to think that I am not throwing away money that could have gone for milk or diapers, instead, I am investing money for my son's future - by learning everything I can to be a good enough mother.

I know that I still got a long way to go before I can say that I’ve done a good job at parenting, I know that to finish reading all of the books above would mean there will be a whole lot more one-hour-McDonald’s-Cheeseburger-meal times and I am sure that there will be more mad FB statuses to come – but at the end of it all, if Johan grew up to be the man I am praying for him to be, I’ll give myself a pat on the back and say, “You have invested well, Mommy.”