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A few evenings ago I was in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner and could hear Baby V putting on a concert in her room. She loves to “play” her piano! When each carefully composed song was over, she would stop and clap for herself before starting the next ballad. She continued this process over and over, smiling a little bigger once she realised I was watching and clapping with her. Baby V’s concert was thoroughly enjoyed by all!

If someone was given the task of listing all the things that a mother does in any given day, they would need a lot of paper, and a hand rub after they were done. A mothers job description is huge, both physically and mentally. On a daily basis there are numerous tasks that mothers “perform”, most with out even thinking about. Weather you are a working mother, stay at home mother, or a working from home mother…these jobs all have endless responsibilities that most of the time go unrewarded.

Now, do not get me wrong, I am not saying that motherhood is unrewarding, it is the most rewarding thing ever…what I am saying is that sometimes there are jobs we do, that we just do, and are not rewarded for. I am not saying we need to be rewarded for everything we do…what I am saying is that sometimes you just need to clap for yourself. Take a few seconds to recognize that what you are doing is worthy of a reward.

Baby V did not wait for an audience to clap for her, nope, she took her “reward” into her own hands.

Sometimes we need to do the same…go ahead and start by clapping for yourself right now because you are taking a five minute break to do something for yourself.

Maybe you figured out how to do something “geeky” on your computer all by yourself…clap.(I clap big for this one!) Maybe you just brought your baby home from the hospital and figured out how the car seat straps work…clap. Maybe your baby just slept for 5 hours in a row…clap. Maybe you just gave your baby a bath for the first time (baby V’s daddy gave her ALL her baths for the first 2 months of her life, I was afraid of it). Maybe you are starting to potty train and had your first small victory…clap. Maybe you cooked dinner with no tears (from you or the kids) and the smoke alarm did not go off. Go ahead, clap for yourself, do not wait for someone else to clap for you. See the value of your work, reward yourself.

But do not stop with just applauding for yourself…

So Lesson From Baby V #4 ~ Clap for yourself and for a friend.

Maybe there is a new mom that needs you to clap with her over all the little bitty small victories that make up just one overwhelming day of being a new mom. Maybe you are the new mom…that alone deserves a round of applause! Maybe your friend just finished an overwhelming project at work…clap for her. Do not overlook the seemingly small things, small victories are what big victories are made of.

Celebrate…applaud for yourself and for others.

~ Jennifer

You might also like…

• Red Heels Dare #1 ~ Read Together
• Red Heels Dare #2 ~ Focus on Gratitude
• Red Heels Dare #3 ~ Paint Your Toenails Red
• Red Heels Dare #4 ~ Answer What is Calling You
• Red Heels Dare #5 ~ I Will Not Do It All

You might also like…

• Lessons From Baby V ~ #1 Smile & Respect Yourself
• Lessons From Baby V ~ #2 Let Your Face Light Up
• Lessons From Baby V ~ #3 Just Dance
• Lessons From Baby V ~ #4 Clap For Yourself