Hey guys! Hope you
all are having a fine week. I'm late posting again! Sorry! I’ve put in
long hours catching up on some long neglected yard work. I also found some poison ivy. Happily, I didn’t discover it with my limbs.
This post is for the ladies.
I’ll be discussing being more than just a mom. Sorry to all our male readers. I would love to give you some advice on being
more than just a dad, but unfortunately I’m not qualified, gender-wise. Hopefully you will find that some information
in this post pertains to you as well.
Parenting is one of the most rewarding experiences in the
world, arguably the MOST enjoyable. It
is also one of the hardest. Just like
any activity in life, you can overdo it and burn out. You must take breaks to recharge if you
expect to perform at your maximum potential.
It is a very important job, and you do your best if you are relaxed,
recharged, and refreshed.
The trouble is that modern parents are often so busy that
they struggle to find time to spend with their kids, let alone finding time for
a break. It just isn’t a priority. My number one piece of advice is to MAKE
time. Jot it down in your appointment
book and keep it as faithfully as you would for one of your kids’
appointments.
My second tip is to get enough sleep. Being tired adds to frustration and chaos,
and your body needs time to repair itself and to fight off illness. Yes, moms notoriously have little sleep, but
what I’m telling you is that if you have the opportunity to sleep, seize it. Being well rested will make a huge difference
in your life, and in your kids’ lives.
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| SO not a mom... |
“But Heather! This is
great advice and all, but I thought this post was about being MORE than just a
mom! You are just giving me parenting
tips!” Am I? If you have a spare moment to yourself and
you are exhausted, what are you going to do?
Uh-huh. You bet your booty you
will be napping. “Me time” does not
equal “sleep time.” And new mothers, it
doesn’t equal “shower time” or “pee time” either. You need real legit “me time”.
After you have cleared room for yourself in your schedule
(and even an hour a week will do wonders), do something that makes your soul
sing. Taking a fitness class might be
your idea of joy or maybe your idea of hell.
Don’t force yourself to do something you won’t enjoy. That is a crappy way of giving yourself
love. Take the opportunity to do
something worth it for you.
Here are some suggestions:
bake, cook, garden, read, take a long hot bath, sing, swim, bike, run,
play with your dog, go for a walk, hike, draw, play a video game, dance, sew,
craft, meditate, go bird watching, try a new food, shop, hang out with a
friend, play a sport, scrapbook, grab a coffee, watch a movie, catch up on your
favorite tv series, plan your dream vacation, paint, check out an art exhibit,
visit the fair, assemble a puzzle, etc.
In order to be more than just a mom, you have to learn to
know yourself outside of being a mom. It
is perfectly okay if you have no idea what you enjoy anymore. Great!
It means more experimenting and intrigue as you take yourself on dates
to get to the bottom of who you are when you aren’t surrounded by
children. Yes, your kids may be
everything to you, but that doesn’t mean they are everything you are.
