Many, if not all, can agree that motherhood is the toughest job out there. Not only is it physically tolling it is also emotionally tolling as well. You can never have a sick day and you always have to be on top of your game. It is easy to lose yourself in your role as a mom. Your needs always come second to your children making it easy to forget about yourself.
But as mothers, it is important that we don’t lose ourselves, that we remember we are someone besides a mom. Before becoming a mom, we all had other things that defined us. Just like any other job, motherhood is one that you can burn yourself out from. This is why it is so important to take time to refocus on ourselves. Trying to parent small children and teenagers can push any mother into insanity. Here are some ways to make sure you stay sane through this crazy adventure called parenthood.
Plan a day for yourself. When you are with your kids it is hard to even get just an hour or a minute to yourself. But this is so important to do so you don’t get overwhelmed. Make it a point to schedule out a day where you can spend doing all the things you love to do without little hands pulling at you every minute. Let your partner know that you need a day off and put it on the calendar. That way you can make sure you don’t miss it and can schedule around it.
Revisit your hobbies. Remember when you use to love to paint or read? Or what about all those DIY projects you pinned on Pinterest? Don’t give them up! Having a hobby helps you keep that sense of self. It is great to have something that is all your own and you do only for yourself.
Find your mommy squad. Having friends who are other mommies is so important. It is so nice to have someone going through the same craziness as you are. You can vent, bounce ideas or even get some great advice about parenting. Sometimes, it is so freeing to just vent to them because they know exactly what you are going through. Just remember that these friendships are a 50/50 partnership. Make sure you listen just as much as you talk!
Don’t take motherhood so seriously. This is the toughest to do but it is also the most important. You children are never going to do exactly what you want them to do. They are their own person, which is great and you will appreciate later. There are going to be times where things are just going to get messy and chaos is going to ensue. Remember that these years don’t last that long and try to embrace every moment of it.
Any other ways you can think of to help other mama’s keep their sanity?