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LIZ DENFELD ON BABIES, BLOGGING, AND BARRE3
Joy, fulfillment, pride. Guilt, shame, uncertainty. Motherhood is a complex, nuanced mix of a vast range of emotions, and yet somehow, it can feel uncomfortable—unacceptable, even—to express anything that so much as veers toward the negative end of the spectrum.
This month, we’re celebrating motherhood for everything it is—the joys, challenges, and all the messy, surprising, incredible moments in between—with our Let’s Talk Motherhood series. Over the next four weeks, members of the barre3 community will share their experience of motherhood with us, answering questions that skip the small talk and get right to the issues.
Today, Liz Denfeld talks about her experience as the mother of two little ones, ages 5 and 3. On her blog and Instagram, Liz shares honest accounts of motherhood, digging into everything from traveling with young kids to the decision to go back to work after being a stay-at-home mom. Read on to hear how Liz navigates the world of motherhood, her favorite ways to find time for self-care, and advice for mothers-to-be.
I’m the mama of…
Two spunky little ones: Elodie (5) and James (3)
Before I became a mother, I thought motherhood was…
Idyllic. You know, the Instagram version of motherhood 😉
My favorite part of being a mom is…
Being my kids’ safe place.
The hardest thing about being a mom is….
The immense pressure I feel to raise good humans. Wonderful, kind, strong, empathetic, happy individuals. Feeling like I am solely responsible for that (even if I know that’s not actually true). Oh, and all the whining.
The thing I miss most about my life before motherhood is…
Spending an entire weekend being lazy and binge-watching a show in bed! Not being responsible for the needs of anyone but myself. Also, being able to travel and go places and do things without part of me thinking about/worrying about/missing my kids.
My philosophy on motherhood is…
I truly believe kids feed off our energy. My motherhood philosophy can be summed up by this quote by L.R. Knost: “When little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it’s our job to share our calm, not join their chaos.”
When I can carve out time for myself, I…
Take a barre3 class, of course! But also, take a bath or a really long shower, go out for brunch or dinner with friends, get a mani/pedi, sit in bed with a hot cup of coffee and a good book, listen to a podcast, or go for a walk. I’ve learned that self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive, but that it is crucial to make that time for myself. I am a better and more patient mother when I do!
Motherhood has changed my feelings about…
My dog. I know that’s not the deepest answer, but it’s one I would have never seen coming (despite everyone telling me this would happen) and something I often feel guilty about. Our Frenchie/Boston pup was truly my world before we had our kids. Now he is just one more thing that needs my time, love, and attention, and I just feel totally maxed out.
I would tell mothers-to-be…
To expect the unexpected and give yourself lots of grace. To mother with confidence because you know your baby best – no book, friend, family member, or parenting philosophy can tell you what is best for you or your baby. When you follow your motherly intuition, you’ll never go wrong.
I hope my kids remember me as…
Loving, warm, understanding, someone who always lends a listening ear, someone who loves them without condition.
Joy, fulfillment, pride. Guilt, shame, uncertainty. Motherhood is a complex, nuanced mix of a vast range of emotions, and yet somehow, it can feel uncomfortable—unacceptable, even—to express anything that so much as veers toward the negative end of the spectrum.
This month, we’re celebrating motherhood for everything it is—the joys, challenges, and all the messy, surprising, incredible moments in between—with our Let’s Talk Motherhood series. Over the next four weeks, members of the barre3 community will share their experience of motherhood with us, answering questions that skip the small talk and get right to the issues.
Today, Liz Denfeld talks about her experience as the mother of two little ones, ages 5 and 3. On her blog and Instagram, Liz shares honest accounts of motherhood, digging into everything from traveling with young kids to the decision to go back to work after being a stay-at-home mom. Read on to hear how Liz navigates the world of motherhood, her favorite ways to find time for self-care, and advice for mothers-to-be.
I’m the mama of…
Two spunky little ones: Elodie (5) and James (3)
Before I became a mother, I thought motherhood was…
Idyllic. You know, the Instagram version of motherhood 😉
My favorite part of being a mom is…
Being my kids’ safe place.
The hardest thing about being a mom is….
The immense pressure I feel to raise good humans. Wonderful, kind, strong, empathetic, happy individuals. Feeling like I am solely responsible for that (even if I know that’s not actually true). Oh, and all the whining.
The thing I miss most about my life before motherhood is…
Spending an entire weekend being lazy and binge-watching a show in bed! Not being responsible for the needs of anyone but myself. Also, being able to travel and go places and do things without part of me thinking about/worrying about/missing my kids.
My philosophy on motherhood is…
I truly believe kids feed off our energy. My motherhood philosophy can be summed up by this quote by L.R. Knost: “When little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it’s our job to share our calm, not join their chaos.”
When I can carve out time for myself, I…
Take a barre3 class, of course! But also, take a bath or a really long shower, go out for brunch or dinner with friends, get a mani/pedi, sit in bed with a hot cup of coffee and a good book, listen to a podcast, or go for a walk. I’ve learned that self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive, but that it is crucial to make that time for myself. I am a better and more patient mother when I do!
Motherhood has changed my feelings about…
My dog. I know that’s not the deepest answer, but it’s one I would have never seen coming (despite everyone telling me this would happen) and something I often feel guilty about. Our Frenchie/Boston pup was truly my world before we had our kids. Now he is just one more thing that needs my time, love, and attention, and I just feel totally maxed out.
I would tell mothers-to-be…
To expect the unexpected and give yourself lots of grace. To mother with confidence because you know your baby best – no book, friend, family member, or parenting philosophy can tell you what is best for you or your baby. When you follow your motherly intuition, you’ll never go wrong.
I hope my kids remember me as…
Loving, warm, understanding, someone who always lends a listening ear, someone who loves them without condition.
