We’ve all done it. About midnight you realize that you stink and you haven’t had a shower in 2 days! Your hair has been in a pony tail for over a week. It’s been so long since you put on makeup, you don’t know if you remember how to do it. Your day consists of cleaning, cooking, laundry, changing diapers, playing with the kids, going to ball practice, helping with homework, working on that report that was due 3 days ago, or returning a phone call you should have returned yesterday.
It is easy to get so caught up in being someone’s mommy, wife, or employee that you lose sight of yourself. We feel like bad mothers if we don’t spend every second of the day playing with our kids. We feel like bad wives if our floors aren’t clean enough to eat off of. We feel like bad employees (if you work outside the home) if we can’t take on that extra project or responsibility.
I know how you feel. I have been dealing with this myself lately. I feel that I have lost sight of who I am and the things I like to do. The one thing that is important to remember is that you can’t be everything everyone wants you to be. You are not designed that way. I guess it is a matter of priorities. Where do you rank on your list, or are you even on the list?
I want to encourage you today. Put yourself on the list! Even if you can only find 15 minutes, do it! I know it’s hard. Sometimes…well, a lot, actually… I can’t even go to the bathroom without the phone ringing, Gavin coming in and saying, “Mama!” or Tim walking in and asking me a question that could have waited 5 minutes for me to empty my bladder. We must find time for ourselves for sanity’s sake!
Leave your kids with your husband or a baby sitter. Get in your car and just drive. Go get a mani/pedi if you have enough time for that. Find a quiet place in your house, if that’s possible, and close your eyes. You can do what I do…I go to my office, turn off the lights, and close my eyes.
I think everyone you come in contact with will be happier if you take a little you-time.
How do you find “me-time”? Let us know! Have a great day!
~Devin
