Do You Need A Mommy Time Out?
By Alyice Edrich
Do you feel tired, beaten and worn down? If so, then you need to sit
down and take personal inventory of your life. When was the last time
you took time to just enjoy being alive? No schedules, no
commitments, no to do lists…just a little rest and relaxation doing
something you enjoy—even if no one else enjoys it. If you can't
recall the last time you took a time out for yourself, maybe today's
the day to start....
As moms, we tend to get so wrapped up in caring for everyone else
that we forget to care for ourselves. But without proper attention we
get fat, begin to show signs of fatigue, depression creeps in, we
have unwarranted outbursts of anger, and we encounter mood swings.
That's why making time to care for ourselves is so important. Mommy
time outs are essential in maintaining proper mental and physical
health. Mommy time outs also teach our children that it's okay to do
something for yourself once in awhile—it's okay to take care of you.
The hardest part about taking a mommy time out, however, is that a
mom's job is never done. There's always one more load of laundry, one
more set of dishes, another school function to attend, another
assignment to complete and a child hollering, "Mom!"
So what's a mom to do? It's as simple as "taking action."
And here are some sure fire ways to get mom to take a MOMMY TIME
OUT...
• Ask hubby to watch the kids.
In only two hours, you can get your hair done, get a manicure, try on
a few clothes, and have coffee with a friend. And, in two hours, you
can go see that "Chick Flick" that no one else wants to see.
• Start a Baby Swap.
Simply put, two or more moms agree to watch another's child for one
to two hours on a weekly or monthly basis in exchange for the same
courtesy.
• Join a Bible study.
Bible studies offer childcare services for as little as $2 per visit.
And if you can't afford that, there are often grants in place for
needy families.
• Schedule an evening with a relative.
Have the kids hang out with Aunt Kathy the first Monday of every
month and Grandma Miller the third Saturday of the month. It allows
for special bonding and gives mom a little "me" time.
• Steal a few minutes out of the day.
You can steal time by waking up an hour before the kids get up or
stay up an hour after everyone in the house goes to bed. Use that
time to read a book, journal, doodle, take a luxurious bath, have a
cup of coffee, listen to the birds sing in the morning or the
crickets chirp in the evening, or simply daydream.
About The Author:
Alyice Edrich is a work-at-home mom with an award winning online
magazine. Visit her website,
http://thedabblingmum.com/ebookstore, to
learn how you can earn a living working from home, too. Or stop by
her personal blog, http://alyiceedrich.com,
to learn more about life
on the prairie.