Well isn't that a million dollar question for most moms! For almost 5 years I have been searching for the answer to that very question, and what I have learned is that there is actually a secret to it! Are you ready for it?? Are you sitting down? Here it is, drum roll.......................YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT! Remember the years before you were a a wife and/or a mother how you used to be able to sit down and read a book uninterrupted, eat your own meal without a couple of little "birds" squawking to you from the nest to drop some into their open mouths--even though you made them their very own meal, yours must be better! And my goodness, who knew we would need so much help just to go to the bathroom! I am convinced that my kids don't yet realize that I am totally capable of taking a bath by myself. They must think I am going to drown or something!
Whether you are a wife, mother, daughter, caregiver, etc, you need to be ok with and give yourself permission to take a few minutes out of your day for yourself. As a wife, mother, nurse, and WAHM, (work at home mom) I have been struggling with it, in my mind, more than anyone. Once I turned 30, I really started to realize the importance of this but still didn't put it into action until the new year. I started making time to exercise and take a few minutes each day to prepare my food properly and think about what I am putting into my body and have recently lost 12 lbs! Believe it or not, exercise is a great stress reliever!
Do you want to know the greatest lesson that I have learned out of all of it? I am actually a much better mother, wife, friend, daughter, nurse and WAHM because of it. My kids are still living at the end of the day when I take those few minutes and they ARE capable of self entertainment, even if it is sibling rivalry! And I can do it! And so can you! So if it helps to hear it's ok from one mom to another, then hear me when I say, IT IS OK! Your kids and husband will thank you for it, although you won't think so right away:) And it may just save you from being admitted to the pysch ward! (no pun intended) Start small....it only takes a few days for everyone to get over the shock, including yourself:) You will also teach your children a very valuable lession. So go on, give it a try! You'll be surprised at the results! Cheers ladies!
