Years ago, before I became a mom, I noticed a memo posted on a woman’s fridge. The memo read: take a shower. I couldn’t believe my eyes. What?! You need a memo to remember to take a shower? Seriously? I was so bewildered. This woman must be crazy! That was the only explanation I could come up with.
Now that I have kids I realize there’s another explanation. She wasn’t a crazy woman, she was a mother. In fact, somedays I’m tempted to write memos to shower, eat, drink, and pee! As parents we often focus so much on taking care of our children, that we forget to take care of ourselves. We all know parenthood is about making sacrifices, but where do we draw the line? How much can we sacrifice before our own well-being is at risk? Does our own happiness even matter once we become parents? I believe it does. I see two main reasons:
Reason #1: The oxygen mask rule
Much like the oxygen mask rule on airplanes, it’s important to take care of ourselves so we can effectively help our children. If our own physical or mental health goes down the drain, where does that leave our kids?
Reason #2: Lead by example
Our children are always watching us and following our lead. It’s important for us to set a good example by showing them that your own happiness matters, even once you have children.
So whether it be something as simple as a pedicure or as crazy as a childless vacation (gasp!)…do things that make you happy. And even if you don’t write yourself a memo to shower, at least write yourself one that says “remember ME”.
What do you do that makes YOU happy?
I’m a single mother of boys 10 months and 3 weeks apart. I just started a “mommy time” daily. I had to realize that I deserved time and allow myself to do something just for me. One thing per day, 30 minutes in the morning when I get up at 5 or after they go to bed…..guily pleasur? A cup pf coffee and pinterest
Love this! I always tell that to new moms! The rating of how my day was going (specifically during the newborn years) went up significantly on days that I took a shower!
I tell my patients (nurse midwife by day, mommy by night) who deal with post partum depression to make sure they do something for them selves at least weekly. I think as moms we tend to “lose our self identity” and forget who we were B. B. (before baby).