Mom ME Time
I’ve yet to meet a mom who doesn’t feel her day is filled from wake to sleep. It seems that motherhood is all about taking care of everyone else. From spouse to house, from kids to the dog, all we seem to do is give to everyone else. How many of you are burned out? I already know the answer. Would you expect your cell phone to work if you never charged it? Would you expect your car to run if you didn’t give it gas? No! Then how do you expect to keep on running if you don’t re-fuel yourself.
Your day will always be full. I know you don’t think you have any extra time. But something has to give. Let me ask you a question. Do you want your children to take care of themselves like you take care of yourself? I’m guessing not. I’m guessing that you want your children to laugh more, stress less. You want them to play more, work less. And I’m sure you want them to take better care of their health than you do. If that’s what you want for them, then want it for yourself.
Feeling overwhelmed? Set up one small goal each day that is for you. Call it “mom-me” time. Maybe it’s taking a bath, taking a walk or drinking 8 glasses of water in the day. I believe that your successes will build and before you know it, you will be carving time for you. You will feel better and have more energy. You will also be a GREAT role model for your children. What we won’t do for ourselves, we will do for our kids. Go for it recharge your battery!
| August 23rd, 2008 at 11:41 am
Thank you for this weeks Perspectives. I am one of those moms whose very busy and I don’t get more than about 45minutes total “me” time per week. Learning ways I can ’squeeze in’ exercise is very helpful. It is also encouraging to me that I have been doing things that do keep me healthy without even knowing it. I’ve always been a good/healthful eater and I have a habit of keeping my abs engaged the majority of the time. However, I’ve never thought about how regular household/mommy work can be exercise, while reading this week I paid more attention to how I do things like picking up toys, laundry, picking up/tending to my little ones etc.
I’ve also printed out your articles and exercises and have them easily accessible. With any luck I’ll stay consistent with them even as I move and it will lesson some of the guilt I have for not making it to the gym.
I absolutely love being a mom but it’s great to be a healthy, fit, less stressed woman as well.