With 4 children under the age of 10, I've done my time in the preschool scene. We've done Dr. Seuss week countless times, book fairs, orientations and end of the year parties. I have necklaces made out of flowers, pasta, and beads and we've celebrated the 100th day of school by counting candy, paper clips, cereal, and even Lego men. Let's just say, we've done the preschool thing and we've enjoyed every bit of it.
During my many hours in the car drop-off and pick-up line, I've noticed that we preschool moms can be classified into 3 categories: Head-to-toe Mom, Workout Mom, and Survival mom.
(Before I go too far, can you guess which one I consider myself to be?)
Head-to-Toe Mom: Every preschool has at least one of these moms. You know her, the mom who gets out of her car to walk in her darling with every hair in place, full makeup, and cute sandals (not flip-flops) that actually match her adorable outfit. She's groomed and looks great. Many times I've looked out of my window and imagined her rushing to/from her part-time job, trying to make a little money before she picked up her little one for the afternoon. Who knows what her story is. Whether or not she's working or just takes pride in her appearance. All I know is that there is 100% chance that she wakes up at least an hour before I do every morning.
Workout Mom: Seems to me like this kind of mom is gaining more popularity these days. Workout moms, you know who you are! You can spot a workout mom because they wear their sneakers and running shorts, and usually a pony tail. Preschool offers the workout mom a chance to take a few minutes to exercise and feel better about herself. She's the kind of mom who works hard to keep herself in shape and curiously looks better in her workout clothes than the Head-to-Toe mom looks in her work clothes.
Survival Mom: Yep, you guessed it...I'm a Survival Mom extraordinaire. Oh, the Survival Mom. You've gotta love her! She's the kind of mom that wakes up just in time to get her little ones fed, dressed, and out the door. She's not hard to identify because she is usually wearing a pair of sweat pants or jeans that she pulled on seconds before she got in the minivan, along with flip-flops and a slightly messy pony tail. Teeth brushing is optional but she usually has a cup of coffee in her hand. God Bless the Survival Mom. She's doing her best, but is super busy and doesn't always take time to take care of herself.
I've always considered myself a Survival Mom, but this classification has been challenged lately. You see, I started working out with some awesome "Workout Moms" about 5 weeks ago through Jacksonville Stroller Strength. Surprisingly, I've found myself wearing workout clothes while dropping my kids off at school (I still have a slightly messy pony tail though). I'm enjoying working out so much and am loving that my little guys get a chance to see their mom getting strong and healthy. I am getting to know other moms who value health and who are intelligent, encouraging, and incredibly kind.
In the last 5 weeks, I've had to repent for every classifying preschool moms in any way. When it comes down to it, we are all moms. On any given day we could be any one of the three moms above. The Workout Mom may have a sick kid and find herself at home in those flip flops just trying to survive. The Head-to-Toe Mom might enjoy her day off by going for a much needed run in the park with her kiddos. And, the Survival Mom. Well, she might even pull out that lip gloss out of the bottom of her purse for a teacher conference or lunch date with her hubby.
Whether we put a greater emphasis on health, looks, or sleep, when it comes down to it, we're all doing our best to take care of our families while taking care of ourselves. Moms, in any package, are the strength of their families. It's not an easy job, but it's the best job in the world and the benefits are eternal.
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