Something I’ve been practicing all my life, as I’m sure most of us do, either sporadically or consistently. I guess it depends on the need…and one’s personal baggage.
My mom was a single parent who had her hands full with 9 children, so I think she’d run out of steam by the time I accidentally happened along a year before my father died. While she did the best she could looking after the family’s wants, at 30, my mom had barely seen her own needs met.
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Because I was the last sibling under my mom’s care after the others left home, she and I seemed to have a “love ’em or leave ’em” relationship. We loved one another, out of necessity, but we both probably wished we could up and go…somewhere else…separately. But we were stuck like glue, and we made the best of it.
And so I learned to self-nurture. Or at least I tried. Growing up with low self-esteem, however confident I seemed outwardly, made it very difficult to care for myself emotionally. Without parents to show the way, children tend to wander like nomads in the desert. But the one legacy left me by my mom was the will to survive.
Survive I have. Fortunately I also became an expert at self-nurturing, however late in life. With the help of two very important people, my husband and my daughter, as well as others, I “turned the corner,” and gradually began to learn to love myself…
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…warts…beauty spots…and all…
………hugmamma. 😉
hugmamma's MIND, BODY and SOUL 
I’m sure you don’t have an image problem like your go-go boot granny you have posted so all’s good I would say.
Love reading your stories 🙂
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Nuturing seems to work best with help and support of those you love and love you in return……
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Dearest Hugmamma: I just love your blog….it is beautiful in thought, word, and deed. It lifts my heart whenever I receive an email of a new post or whenever I just stop by your blog. It is positive, uplifting, and full of joy. As a result, I am giving you and award that I created over the weekend. It is called The Candle Lighter Award. There are no specific requirements. You can copy the award image onto your blog. You can award as many blogs as you want anytime you want. I’d love it if you’d let me know the links of the folks you award it to. That way I can add their blog to my list of Candle LIght Award recipients (on my page called, oddly enough The Candle LIghter Award :-)). Anyway, for all you do, hugamamma, this award’s for you. http://believeanyway.wordpress.com/the-candle-lighter-award/
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Sounds like you’ve made it to a healthy attitude. Good for you!
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I miss you, Christine! You inspire me to live healthy and happy. I only hope I do the same for you.
hugs for the holidays…and beyond…always beyond…hugmamma. 🙂
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I think you’ve done a good job of overcoming the low self-esteem and lack of nurturing. Certainly you’ve set a better example for your daughter.
It’s nice to see you back.
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Thank you for letting me know that my reflections are respected and not seen as a cry for pity. I tell it like it is so that others might see themselves in me…struggling and succeeding…struggling and succeeding…coming to terms with where I’ve been…so that I can choose a better future for myself…and those I love…and who love me. 🙂
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