Comments on Or so she says...: Are You In There? (she: Kate P.)

I LOVE this post! because not only do I get lost i...

2009-11-12T07:51:30.868-07:00

I LOVE this post! because not only do I get lost in labels also but I get the "guilty" feeling when I don't feel I am the labels I SHOULD be (like, mom-of-many; stay-at-home mom; awesome homemaker; excellent cook; conscientious wife; sensitive caregiver...) Those are the labels I know make a huge difference in a family and what I am striving for but I don't always live up to.
But I live up to other things (loving-mom-of-awesome-2-year-old; pretty-good-wife; HR-generalist-and-basic-crazy-lady-around-the-office; etc.) I really find "myself" when I hear a great song and when I catch up with old friends from when I was the [real?] me. It's funny, too, how I like to get lost in my labels and then go back to my real self, and bounce back and forth. It makes me appreciate both sides of life.

I am in great need of one of these moments right n...

2009-11-06T20:10:37.368-07:00

I am in great need of one of these moments right now. I need to go find that time, you're right, it's the only way to regain some sanity.

I always feel like my comment has to be as witty a...

2009-11-05T13:29:05.749-07:00

I always feel like my comment has to be as witty and thoughtful as the post ..... I don't think I can do it for this one!
Kate you are an amazing person who has kept me thinking about my life ever since I read this fabulous post. Thank you for this "word vomit" (love it) and for reminding all of us that we can come first in our own lives - LOVE YOU!

oh hun, i love you! you ARE a freakin' awesom...

2009-11-05T00:17:08.010-07:00

oh hun, i love you! you ARE a freakin' awesome kate! i love that i've been able to hang with you and feel a bit cooler when we do :) thanks so much for the reminder to not get lost in life.

Did anyone else cry? Or is it just because she'...

2009-11-04T23:34:23.020-07:00

Did anyone else cry? Or is it just because she's my sister. Loved the post Kate, and love you.

You are an awesome Kate!! I love your guts and am ...

2009-11-04T21:39:01.989-07:00

You are an awesome Kate!! I love your guts and am truly grateful for your friendship, your late-night paper editing, your ability to be a total bad-ass, all while having the best hair in the room. Love you, thanks for the shout-out sistah!

I know Kate as a sister and a friend and as creati...

2009-11-04T19:11:19.455-07:00

I know Kate as a sister and a friend and as creative and fun. Loved the post, it reminds me that I used to be just me, does that make sense?

Kate - how did you get so darn smart and such pers...

2009-11-04T17:58:53.967-07:00

Kate - how did you get so darn smart and such perspective??? lol.

now could you come out here and personally mentor me so ME can come out again, lol. these darn labels seem to consume all too much of "me". sigh.

So Kate happens to be one of my most favorite peop...

2009-11-04T17:54:26.090-07:00

So Kate happens to be one of my most favorite people in the world, and I just want to confirm to y'all here and now that she is indeed the freakin' awesomest Kate I know. And wow! This post is incredible and exactly what I needed to hear right now. I know I'm in here somewhere...time to shuffle things around and see if I can find where I put myself. :) Thanks for reminding me.

Please invite her back to your blog in the future. She is a total crack up!

Awesome, Kate. Can I get a resounding "amen...

2009-11-04T15:44:23.097-07:00

Awesome, Kate.

Can I get a resounding "amen" from all the women in the world? Oh, I think I just heard it.

Brilliant thoughts. Now I need to figure out ME.....

2009-11-04T15:15:55.878-07:00

Brilliant thoughts. Now I need to figure out ME...where is me?

Kate, you rock.

Kate everything you said is so true. It's so ...

2009-11-04T15:14:48.228-07:00

Kate everything you said is so true. It's so easy to lose yourself when you become wife and mother. (and teacher :) ) Thanks for the wonderful reminder, and I hope to see you write here again! You are amazing!

great post! i'm still hoping to discover myse...

2009-11-04T14:28:51.773-07:00

great post! i'm still hoping to discover myself again. i keep saying.. when i'm done having kids. I need to buck up and do it NOW!

Kate- you're awesome! Thanks for this post! ...

2009-11-04T13:40:23.227-07:00

Kate- you're awesome! Thanks for this post! I think we women get too caught up in pleasing everyone else, and we forget about ourselves. Great reminder to take time for ourselves! Thanks chica!

Thank you so much for your word vomit, I almost fe...

2009-11-04T13:39:53.868-07:00

Thank you so much for your word vomit, I almost felt like you were in my brain! I too get lost in my labels. I was asked to list my hobbies the other day at church, and it was horrible how long I had to pause. Hobbies, what hobbies? Do three little wild boys count? I think I will give myself permission to rediscover my old self!

This is such a very Kate post. Thanks! I rather ...

2009-11-04T13:27:27.036-07:00

This is such a very Kate post. Thanks! I rather enjoyed it. And I agree with all of the sentiments above - it took me until about 2 years ago to re-emerge from the pile of labels. Being in my 30's is a good thing. I finally feel comfortable just being in my own skin.

Amen!!! I laughed hard at the "I'm a goo...

2009-11-04T12:18:22.641-07:00

Amen!!! I laughed hard at the "I'm a good mom, but I'm a freakin' awesome Kate." So true.

I too have lost myself in the same labels of mom, ...

2009-11-04T09:33:47.416-07:00

I too have lost myself in the same labels of mom, wife, daughter, sister and hairstylist. I really have no idea who i am anymore other than those lablels and i miss who i use to be. You have just reminded me that i really need to reconnect with the old me and hopefully it will help me be a better me now! Thanks

LOVE it. Thanks, Kate!

2009-11-04T08:35:20.913-07:00

LOVE it. Thanks, Kate!

Aww...Kate! You are so sweet, I think I like you....

2009-11-04T08:04:56.531-07:00

Aww...Kate! You are so sweet, I think I like you. :)

I love your post, your experience, and your thoughts on this subject. It really is so important for women to maintain a sense of identity. Doesn't it seem like everything in life is a balancing act? It can really wear you out!

My favorite thing (that I should do more than I do) is when I get up earlier than all my kids and just relax. It's one of the few times of the day where I can exercise, work in the yard, play on the computer, read a book, use my brain!!, etc. It's so nice and refreshing to start a day like that BEFORE the kids wake up. I notice when we all get up around the same time I feel frazzled. Too much to do all at once!

Great post, girl! Thanks!

I've lost myself to labels and to chronic dise...

2009-11-04T06:58:17.217-07:00

I've lost myself to labels and to chronic disease. When I do something that reminds me of the woman I once was, like if I do some walking or yoga (I don't often) I cry and cry....it's very hard. Some days I look in the mirror and don't even recognize the woman I've become. Other days my life is overflowing with joy and happiness that are a direct result of my labels - wife, mother, friend, etc. Its a delicate balance, I know I'm in here somewhere.