Mommies Magazine

Time out for Mommy!

Posted on 31. Oct, 2007 by Crafty Mom in Hobbies & Crafts

“If you are stressed, mentally exhausted and out of balance, you aren’t being fair to yourself or your family. You’ll be a happier person ? not to mention a better wife, mother and friend ? once you stop putting your own needs last.” ? Dr. Phil

We’ve all heard it before ? ‘If mamma ain’t happy, nobody’s happy’. If you don’t believe this, ask any child or spouse, how the climate was at home when mom was stressed out! Somewhere along the line moms got it in their head that they need to be everything to everyone and their own needs simply no longer mattered.

While as selfless and heroic as that philosophy may sound, it’s actually quite selfish. By refusing to take time for personal interests and hobbies, mom is not able to be the best role model she can be. Would you want to be treated by a surgeon who just completed a double shift, working 16 hours straight on his feet? Or would you rather go under the knife at the helm of someone who knows the fine art of balance?

Moms are nurturers by nature. We like to take care of things and people. That’s what makes moms so special. So the next time you’re writing down all of your children’s sporting, music and academic events into your planner, don’t forget to write down time out for mom.

Schedule a yoga class or a scrap booking party. Plan reprieves regularly. Once a month will be helpful, but once a week will be even better. If you somehow don’t think you deserve it or don’t have time, then perhaps schedule time to listen to some self-help audio books on subjects such as self esteem, self matters, confidence and priorities.

Consider this ? if your child participated in band, choir, drama club, tennis and church activities, yet always felt strung out that she never had time for homework, sleep, and friends or to just play her Nintendo DS, what would you recommend? Likely you’d suggest that she take time out to smell the roses. Perhaps she took on too much at once and because she never felt at peace with anything, it was time to re-evaluate priorities.

It is no different with all the obligations mom chooses to undertake. Re-evaluate priorities, schedule your own interests or take time to learn what actually interests you. You’ll be a better mom because of it!