Sometimes I stop and think I can’t remember the last time I washed my hair.
Showering, I can remember(most of the time), but I’ll have to think about when I really took the time to wash and condition and blow dry and flat iron my hair so it doesn’t look like a total mess.
And it’s usually for a particular reason that I actually took the time to do all that: a dinner with Hubs or some sort of appointment.
And that’s crazy.
I need to make time for me.
I will make time for me.
I’m not talking about giving myself a week’s vacation on a tropical island or even saying that I need an afternoon to myself once a month.
I’m talking about doing the little things that I should be doing for myself.
The things that I never thought I’d neglect until I became a mom.
Most mornings, I’m too busy getting my three boys dressed, fed, and everything packed and ready for school to do anything for me. They brush their teeth- but do I have time? They eat, but do I? Not usually. It happens, but it will be at some random time later in the day when I think oh, my teeth feel gross. Or my stomach yells at me sometime after noon because I still haven’t given it anything to eat.
But, if I’m not taking care of myself, I’ll start to feel like crap(and look and probably smell like crap, too). And if I’m feeling like crap, then that will effect the type of mom I am.
I can make all the excuses I want- that I have three boys and a husband and the house to take care, as well as working full-time from home… I don’t have the time to take care of me.
Well, I’m calling bullshit on my own excuse. Because that excuse works for some of the big things- like if I say I need to take care of me by doing nothing but sleeping for an entire week- it doesn’t hold up with the little things.
So, I’m promising to take better care of me and realizing it’s not impossible.
I will:
- brush my teeth every morning and night
- wash and moisturize my face every morning and night
- shower daily
- wash my hair every other day
- exercise 3x+/week
- eat 3 meals/day
- drink more water
- go to bed by 11pm
When I look at it that way, those are not unreasonable expectations. I imagine my pre-kids self thinking what the hell is wrong with someone who can’t accomplish those simple tasks. And then mocking the 11pm curfew.
But, since my list is so simple- that means I can stick to it, right?
It can be so hard to take care of you when you are busy getting everyone else taken care of. I’m pretty fanatical about self care basics- eating, showering, brushing my teeth. I need to take more time too cook meals for us at home. Eating out is draining us. If only the dishes fairy would show up and help out after the meal, it would be so much easier.
NJ @ A Cookie Before Dinner recently posted..Five Minute Friday- What Mama Did.
Take out just seems so easy. That’s something I need to work on, too.
I need to copy this list and follow it. These are totally reasonable expectations.
Tracie recently posted..Every Calling Is Important
When you look at how simple the list it, you realize that it’s not crazy to think we could get these things done. I’m trying!
When we are so involved in taking care of everyone else and so busy with the other things, it’s easy to forget about our own needs. I’m going to make a list for myself too. I need to take back some time for me.
Kimberly recently posted..The Real Reasons Why I Had Kids
And we totally deserve it!
This is great. I might just steal your list. If I start with the “little things” then maybe I won’t be as desperate for one of the big ones (like a vacation). Everybody wins when Mom is content. =)
Ashley recently posted..Oh Pinterest. Why do you torment me so?
So true! It’s so much smoother when mom is taken care of!
It is so easy to forget about ourselves, isn’t it? I find I do the same things – especially the forgetting to eat one. It will be lunchtime sometimes before I remember that I have’t eaten – then it throws my whole day off. And I stay up way too late. I am making an effort to do better with the “me” stuff, though.
Kim@Co-Pilot Mom recently posted..Slow Roasted Polyethelene
And I’m so miserably cranky if I haven’t had something to eat!
I’m pretty sure we’ve living the same life.
Francesca recently posted..BBC One Life Movie Launch Twitter Party: #BBCEarth
Ha. Wouldn’t surprise me at all.
I think you can do it
I’m trying. It shouldn’t be hard… yet it somehow is.
LOVE this post. Pinned it! I’m sure every MOM can attest to this and we all need a re-boot to take care of ourselves! Thanks for the reminder and the encouragement!!!
Thanks, Chris! It’s crazy how we can let everything else get in the way of taking care of ourselves.
I so need to work on your list.
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Booking Across the U.S.A. – South Carolina
We can all do this, though!
I can relate to every single thing you said here. I need to do this, too. I really need to start going to bed earlier even though it means sacrificing some of my unwinding and getting stuff done. It is really starting to interfere with my days. Great advice!
AnnMarie recently posted..Essence of Now: Weekend Update
I love that quiet time at night- but I was starting to stay up way too late. And then mornings are so freaking rough!
I definitely need to work on the earlier bedtime, and perhaps some fashion. I just throw on clothes.
Leigh Powell Hines @Hinessightblog recently posted..Pack Your Bags: A Traveler’s Look at the Siena Hotel in Chapel Hill, N.C.
I’m terrible at fashion- but I think that’s an area I’ve just made peace with!
I am making time for myself to exercise two to three times a week. I started last week and it feels great.
Jess recently posted..Little Loves With Their Little Quilts
Same here. I’m on week 3 of doing yoga regularly and I’m feeling so much better.
The sleeping and eating and exercising are KEY. Whenever I let any of those slide (in any way) I’m a grumpy gus. You can do it, Shell for YOU and for your family!!!
xo
Elaine recently posted..Here I Am
Oh, I’m so cranky without food and exercise!
I need to make myself a mom promise. This is a good idea. I think I”m going to write some thoughts down right now!
melissa at filling our bucket recently posted..Thankful Thursday
Do it! We all need to take care of ourselves.
We always put ourselves last, and yet we are the most important part of the family. So why don’t we take better care of ourselves? It’s okay to do for ourselves because we will be able to better serve our families. I need to go to bed earlier, get dressed in the morning and not later in the day, and let myself have some me time.
Lourie recently posted..College Life: Check Me Out
It’s hard to take care of everyone else if we aren’t feeling good ourselves. I’m working on it!
I must be a mom, because I feel a little tired just reading your list. I often remember to eat simply because my stomach gets noisy. I make time to shower and do my hair when I start to feel gross. But then again, I’m in bed most nights by 10. I’m too tired to take care of me by the time I get the time.
Venassa recently posted..Meal Plan Monday
I have that feeling at night a lot- that I’m too tired to shower or even wash my face or brush my teeth. But I’m working on it!
You deserve at least this much! It really is so easy to let ourselves get wrapped up in caring for everyone else that we forget that our health and well being matter too.
Mel recently posted..Counting My Blessings
We are important, too!
Well I haven’t brushed my teeth yet, but I am on the elyptical. So a shower and a clean mouth are right around the corner! Lol
Adrienne recently posted..Taking Our Time
Yay!
I can so relate to this post! My dh asked me the other day if I’d taken a shower that morning. Turns out, he wanted to know if the drain was clear because he’d tried fixing it. I was defensive and said, “Well, no. Not today…But I did shower yesterday.” Kind of pathetic. I could print your list for myself and post it on the fridge – exactly what I need to “make time” for too.
Mindy @The Inquisitive Mom recently posted..Andrea’s Pacifier Clips Mitten Clips Giveaway – Part of the 1000 Fb Fan Celebration!
Oh, I’ve gotten defensive about that sort of thing, too!
I’m stealing your list. I can’t believe that I too forget these simple things. Seems like it should be so easy but it really isn’t. I had to make a daily reminder on my phone to remember to take my medications.
Denise recently posted..Side Effects Can Suck It
It’s crazy that we can let these little things go undone. No more!
11pm? I am lucky to stay awake until 10 – usually I’m falling asleep in the couch right after we put the kids in bed.
Yea – me time doesn’t happen regularly. I have started a new ritual though – after I get the kids on the bus I have just enough time to stop by my moms and enjoy a cup of coffee with her. That’s my me time right now
Lately, I have been falling asleep earlier but before, I was staying up late because it was so nice to have some quiet.
What a fun ritual with your mom!
I know what it’s like to forget all about yourself. You are not alone in this! I need to make a list too. Taking a shower should probably be at the top. ~Xiomara
Xiomara| Equis Place recently posted..You Can Do It! {Potty Training with Pull-Ups.}
Things we never thought would be an issue until we had kids, right?
Can totally relate…wouldn’t it be nice to have someone come and blow out your hair, like the stars do?? More you time…makes for a happier mom for sure. I just started taking yoga, hot yoga at that. It is very cleansing!
Jenny recently posted..bits and pieces…
Having someone blow out my hair is tops on my list of luxuries I would want if I ever hit the lottery.
I’ve gotten back into yoga in the past few weeks and plan to try a hot yoga class this week! I’ve never done hot before.
Oh God! Your list is making me break out in a cold sweat just thinking about trying to achieve those goals. I got home from TweenStar’s basketball game yesterday and was horrified by the way I looked in the mirror. Oy Vey! It is now 10:59 and I am totally wrapping this up so that I can get to bed with the hope that I wake up at 5:15 to run! Fingers crossed.
But you, you can rock this list! ; )
It’s so hard with all the running around we have to do for the kids!
My pre-kids self would have done the same with that list. But here I am trying to figure out how to fit in curling my hair, so I can ACTUALLY look appropriate at work. Here’s wishing you the best of luck in fitting it all in. I know it’s not easy.
Leslie recently posted..{Weigh in Wednesday} Week 7
So much changes after kids!
Welcome to parenthood. A phrase I have muttered more times than I care to count to my son who is a new father. When he whines, mom I can’t even eat. I say now you see why I am so fat. We eat in between the needs of our children. It is all we have time for. Sometimes I just want to scream. Last week I got myself a yoga DVD. I have watched it one time. Key word WATCHED..
Southern Angel recently posted..Why did I buy that?? Monday Listicles
Oh, I bet it’s such a huge change for him!
Sleep earlier, drink more water, exercise – those are on my list too. At least I manage the others quite well
It’s a good promise to make to yourself!
Alison recently posted..The Things They Do
I need to add drink more water to my list!
Good for you! And I am right there with you, often realizing I never ate breakfast when I am at the store and want to eat everything I see. Something I learned at a Power of Mom’s retreat and always try and remind myself is that “Mommy is a person too” and since we are people also we have needs that need to be taken care of.
Emmy recently posted..Ten Things to Smile About: February
Our pre mom selves had no idea how frickin’ hard it would be to get our basic needs met! I think this is great and I’m betting you can do it! My thing is giving myself a pedicure every few weeks and trying to be out of yoga pants once a week when Chris gets home as well as your list!
Stephanie @ Babe’s Rockin’ Mami recently posted..Two Weeks {Check In with Mami & Abby}