How-To Be A Mom In 2024

The True Essence of Motherhood in 2024: Challenges and Joys

Jen Banks dives into the life of a mother approaching Mother's Day, discussing the unpredictability and demanding nature of motherhood in 2024. It humorously outlines a 'job description*' for being a mom, emphasizing the lack of tangible benefits and the never-ending responsibilities, from executive support to janitorial duties, without any financial compensation. Jen encourages mothers to engage in self-care and lean on their support systems to manage the overwhelming task of motherhood. She also touches upon her personal life, mentioning an upcoming book writing project titled 'Let Yourself Bloom' and the importance of taking care of oneself. The episode is intended to uplift and recognize the invaluable, often underappreciated work mothers do, highlighting the extraordinary, yet challenging aspects of motherhood.

*Adapted from 'A Mom Job Description by Abby Chipman'

00:00 Welcome and Personal Updates 00:53 The Joy of Essential Oils and Self-Care 01:16 Embarking on a Book Writing Adventure 02:02 The Ultimate Guide to Being a Mom in 2024 02:21 The Unspoken Challenges of Motherhood 09:20 Navigating Motherhood with Grace and Self-Care 11:01 Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

#MotherhoodJourney #PodcastCommunity #EmpoweredMoms #AuthorLife #SelfCareSunday #PodcastRecommendation #MomLifeBalance #InspiringWomen

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Great! It seems like you want to draft a blog post based on the script provided. I'll help you put together a cohesive blog post. 

Title: "Embracing Motherhood: A Journey of Self-Care and Resilience"

Body: --- Hey there, happy Thursday! You know what this means, we are almost to the weekend. I was just barely doing laundry and it caught me off guard because I was folding a shirt that I had worn yesterday. And normally my laundry is a three week turnaround ish, and so I am realizing that if I want to wear something again really soon, I should leave it towards the end of my rotation so that it can just be right there when I'm ready.

Today has been very relaxing for me. A friend offered to give me an essential oils massage. She's practicing giving these and for sure I took her up on that. She said every mom needs a massage. So, this is for you. I'm sure you need to hear this. Go book yourself a massage or have your partner give you one. You deserve one.

I am getting so excited because I write my book the last week of this month. Most people say, Oh yeah, I'm going to write a book this year or, Oh yeah, I've been working on a book, but no, I'm writing my book in a week, the last week of this month. So when I met this, Publisher, I learned that she does these author adventures and also I didn't have to have a manuscript and go find a publisher. She just took me on and I haven't written a word. So, okay, that's a lie. I've also worked on it here and there since I met with her and we've been brainstorming and gathering ingredients, but the bulk of the book will be written in one week and then it'll be published in September. So stay tuned. It's going to be called Let Yourself Bloom.

So as I'm preparing for that, I decided to do this episode and let's consider it the Mother's Day episode because I titled it, How to Be a Mom in 2024. It is a job for sure. And not to say that there's not joy in it because there's joy in jobs. There's other ways to look at it too, but I feel like I was blindsided. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. And not that there's any way to really prepare to be a mom, but I just feel like I saw the highlight reel of everyone's experience and nobody really told me what to expect. And maybe they weren't talking about it, or maybe they were just sharing it with their peers and not someone as young as I was at the time, but I feel like there was a lot more that could have been said to prepare for motherhood, but I digress. 

### The Realities of Motherhood in 2024

This is where we're at and we're making it work. And so here is how to be a mom in 2024. Be sure to expect challenging permanent work in an unstable and unpredictable environment with limited access to basic services. You must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work. Variable hours in stressful and often ambiguous conditions, which will include evenings and weekends, and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel is required, including trips to primitive campsites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in faraway cities. Full planning and coordination of travel for all team members will be your responsibility. Travel expenses are not reimbursed. Executive courier and chauffeur duties are also required. Time off must be requested and approved in advance, with the caveat that during said time off, You remain on call around the clock.

### Being a Superhero Mom

Your responsibilities are virtually

Episode Transcript

(00:23):
Hey there, happy Thursday!
You know what this means, weare almost to the weekend.
I was just barely doing laundry and itcaught me off guard because I was folding
a shirt that I had worn yesterday.
And normally my laundry is a three weekturnaround ish, and so I am realizing
that if I want to wear something againreally soon, I should leave it towards

(00:47):
the end of my rotation so that it canjust be right there when I'm ready.
Today has been very relaxing for me.
A friend offered to give mean essential oils massage.
She's practicing giving these andfor sure I took her up on that.
She said every mom needs a massage.
So, this is for you.

(01:09):
I'm sure you need to hear this.
Go book yourself a massage orhave your partner give you one.
You deserve one.

Jen Banks (01:17):
I am getting so excited because I write my book
the last week of this month.
Most people say, Oh yeah, I'm goingto write a book this year or, Oh
yeah, I've been working on a book,but no, I'm writing my book in a
week, the last week of this month.
So when I met this, Publisher, I learnedthat she does these author adventures

(01:37):
and also I didn't have to have amanuscript and go find a publisher.
She just took me on andI haven't written a word.
So, okay, that's a lie.
I've also worked on it here andthere since I met with her and we've
been brainstorming and gatheringingredients, but the bulk of the
book will be written in one week andthen it'll be published in September.

(01:57):
So stay tuned.
It's going to be calledLet Yourself Bloom.
So as I'm preparing for that, I decidedto do this episode and let's consider
it the Mother's Day episode becauseI titled it, How to Be a Mom in 2024.
It is a job for sure.

(02:17):
And not to say that there's not joyin it because there's joy in jobs.
There's other ways to look at it too,but I feel like I was blindsided.
I had no idea what Iwas getting myself into.
And not that there's any way toreally prepare to be a mom, but I
just feel like I saw the highlightreel of everyone's experience and

(02:39):
nobody really told me what to expect.
And maybe they weren't talking about it,or maybe they were just sharing it with
their peers and not someone as young asI was at the time, but I feel like there
was a lot more that could have been saidto prepare for motherhood, but I digress.
This is where we're atand we're making it work.
And so here is how to be a mom in 2024.

(03:03):
Be sure to expect challengingpermanent work in an unstable and
unpredictable environment withlimited access to basic services.
You must possess excellentcommunication and organizational
skills and be willing to work.
Variable hours in stressful andoften ambiguous conditions, which

(03:23):
will include evenings and weekends,and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel is required,including trips to primitive campsites
on rainy weekends and endless sportstournaments in faraway cities.
Full planning and
coordination of travel for all teammembers will be your responsibility.

(03:47):
Travel expenses are not reimbursed.
Executive courier and chauffeurduties are also required.
Time off must be requested andapproved in advance, with the caveat
that during said time off, Youremain on call around the clock.
Your responsibilities are virtuallyunlimited, but they include providing high

(04:12):
level executive support through schedulemanagement, Purchase approvals while
maintaining budget and peace, as wellas event planning, which often requires
coordination with external stakeholders.
You must be able to pivot away fromplanned schedule at a moment's notice and
effectively communicate changes to team.
You must mentally maintain the companycalendar, list of inventory shortages,

(04:36):
pre scheduled, Days off, doctor,dentist, therapy appointments, gift
ideas, meal plans for the week, andprecise locations of important items.
You must manage employee use ofcompany technology, including
monitoring consumption, limitingaccess, and responding to a high

(04:57):
volume of requests for access.
You must be willing to face stimulating,Technical challenges, such as small
gadget repair and stuck zippers.
You must be prepared to providelearning and development opportunities
in multiple settings and formatswith minimal attention spans.

(05:17):
Responsibilities also include anyjanitorial work throughout the facility
and meeting nutritional needs of the team.
You are expected to exhibit patienceand mental strength to read the
same material multiple times a day.
Physical stamina to keep up withenergetic team members for the entire day.

(05:39):
Ability to physically and mentallymultitask, often with only one hand.
Strong negotiation skills and abilityto maintain professional manner
and remain calm, while experiencingmultiple priorities, stress, sleep
deprivation, and sensory overload.
Meditation skills are preferred.
Money management skills are also required.

(06:04):
In this position, there is virtually nopossibility for advancement and promotion.
Your job is to remain in the sameposition for years without complaining,
constantly retraining, and updatingyour skills so that those in your
charge can ultimately surpass you.
Your team will likely offer minimalfeedback related to your performance.

(06:28):
Oh yeah, and on the job trainingis recommended on a continually
exhausting basis for everythingfrom process improvements to product
development to communication tools,keeping up with training will be at
your discretion, and finding trainingmaterials is solely your responsibility.
Be aware that this is avolunteer, unpaid, full time job.

(06:53):
After a number of years, your teamwill be requesting payments from you.
Raises and bonuses will be expected, anda balloon payment is due at the age of 18.
When you die, you give them whatever isleft, and you will be happy to do so.
Benefits of this jobinclude health insurance.

(07:14):
None.
Dental.
None.
Disability.
None.
Retirement or pension?
None.
Tuition reimbursement?
None.
Paid holidays?
None.
Sick leave?
None.
Stock options?
None.
Personal growth opportunities,though, are limitless, and hugs?

(07:36):
Free for life.
It's hard to put a price tagon all of this, but salary.
com estimates upwardsof 200, 000 annually.
if mothers were to be paid.
Can you imagine?
Thank you for doing athankless job, truly.

(08:01):
I know this isn't joking, butreally, so much is required,
expected, asked of, needed, if youare going to truly be a mother.
And it's easy to get bogged downif we dwell on that on a day to
day basis, but we are doing it.
The, truly, the only explanationis that we're superheroes, right?

(08:26):
And if nobody else tells you thisMother's Day, you are doing a great job.
Just as you are, you're enough.
I see you and I'm right therewith you in the trenches.
We got this.
We all feel the weight of motherhoodin different ways, and we all
carry that weight differently.
Some of us have better support systemsthan others, and others have gotten

(08:47):
into a good rhythm and routine.
But with every lifecircumstance, things change.
We have to find a new normal.
We have another child.
We move.
We Have a health condition.
It is tough.
And like I was talking aboutearlier, it's a 24 7 job.

(09:15):
It really is hard to feel respiteand hard to find joy in the journey.
But if we collect little moments alongthe way that bring us joy or we focus
on the positive and What's to come.
If we find ways to incorporate dailyself care so that we don't feel like

(09:39):
we have to escape our lives, but wecan tackle it head on and be okay
in the day to day, that will help.
I remember feeling like mychildren were extensions of me.
They were limbs, as if itwere, and it was hard to leave.
But as I slowly came back tomyself, And figured out ways to

(10:03):
incorporate those self care moments.
I was much more full and able to bringthat version of me back into motherhood.
I hope you can ask a partner orfamily member or someone to step in.
If you truly need that help,I've heard before to ask for

(10:26):
support, not for permission.
So I encourage you to, uh, Find ways totake care of yourself so that you can
show up for motherhood.
I was going to say so that you canbe equal to the task of motherhood,
but I don't feel like we'll everbe equal to the task of motherhood.

(10:46):
It is very daunting.
It's very huge.
It is overwhelming if we let it, but ifwe lean on other people and take it day
by day and not get too bogged down in theheart of it, we can find the joy in it.
Thank you as always to Blane fromRide the Wave Media for the executive
production of this episode and podcast.

(11:09):
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