Redefining Yourself Through Motherhood Series: Part 1, Chapter 5

I was a former classroom teacher turned Mommy - 3 months in, I'm a business owner.  I didn't really know what that meant.  I did have a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, but I had never taken a class on entrepreneurship.  My career background was in teaching - yes, I ran a classroom but a school is so distant from the real world that when you get launched back into society you discover a world that you had no idea existed.  A world of adults!  Who would have thought!  A world where people are working for themselves, networking and building adult and business relationships, making the money they want to make, affecting thousands of lives.  There is so much energy outside of a school building - I didn't know how I was going to figure out this new role - all while taking care of a 3 month old 24/7.

For me, a public school atmosphere became very toxic.  It's one of the most physically, emotionally and mentally draining places to work.  We hear so many negative comments about the state of our education system here in the US and we're blaming our teachers.  They are only a small piece of the destruction.  Public education does not attract lazy, mean, negative people - education grows lazy, mean, negative people.  I remember walking through the empty hallway up to the office during my planning period and I would pass another teacher going in the opposite direction - they would look down at their feet as they passed by and not even make eye contact, no wave, no hello.  What kind of environment is that!!??!!  I could understand that coming from a native New Yorker walking down Wall Street, but in a school building?  Being a teacher can become very all consuming.  Stacks of papers to grade at home each night, extensive lesson plans to create and elaborate activities to facilitate each day. My husband wondered where he was going to fit into this picture.  If you're good at what you do in a classroom you end up becoming the "Yes Man".  You are asked to be in charge of new groups because the principal knows you can get it done and you want to get a good evaluation so you always say "Yes".  In fact, in order to get a good evaluation these days, you have to be in charge of at least two organizations/groups/clubs/teams within the school.

My life revolved around teaching.  Looking back - I was not happy. 

Having a child and becoming a stay at home Mom for me was a blessing in disguise.  So far you've read that Mommyhood for me was not a bed of roses and I'm not out of the woods yet - there's more.  I never ever would have entertained the idea of starting my own business if I did not have Brighton and make the decision to quit my full time J-O-B.

My goal for writing this series is to empower every woman out there to dig deep inside of herself, explore the millions of options the world has to offer and to make her mark.  Becoming a stay at home Mom opens it's doors to endless possibilities if you are willing to open yourself up to receiving those possibilities.  Without Brighton, I would still be in a classroom today and I would be in a classroom until retirement.  I would have lived on okay life.  I would still be going through the motions.  I would have shortchanged my marriage.  I would have stayed inside of my comfort zone.  I would not have found the many blessings outside of my comfort zone.  I would not have changed.  I would not have met the most amazing people that I have met.  I would have seen the world in a different, more closed minded light.  I would not have learned what I've learned about people and how to effectively communication with them.  I would still be judging others. 

Becoming a stay at home Mom changed the world for me.  Opening myself up to the possibility of receiving the gifts of owning my own business changed my world.  And now I am here to change your world.

Please join me later this week as I dive into what it was like to start my first business!

Lesson Learned #5:  Give yourself permission to dream.  There is so much more to this short life than what we've been taught to think and do.  Open yourself up to receiving your dreams and you will be blessed beyond belief.

Stay Tuned!  I invite you to stop by and become a reader of this series as it develops and morphs just like we as mothers develop and morph into thriving, successful women of abundance!  I don't know where this series is going to take me, but I do have a mission.

Megan