GET THAT ‘MOM-ME TIME’
MOTHERS THESE days aren’t your average ‘do it yourself’ parents. They surpass expectations, working above and beyond, to bring home the ‘bacon’, hold down the household, sneak quality moments in with boyfriend or hubby, and still find time to dedicate their all to nurturing the children, fostering a healthy environment, and building a solid foundation for their baby’s growth and development. But sometimes, somewhere along the way of being supermoms, the ‘me’ gets subtracted from the equation. And we get it, being a mother never stops, there are no real breaks, other than nap or sleep time, so the demands can be so great, that you don’t factor yourself into the mix. It’s more important than you think.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ‘ME TIME’.
There’s no mom without me, after all, you’re the individual behind that leading role. So selfcare is extremely vital in preserving harmony, strength, and sometimes, even your sanity.
Let’s not get it twisted: children can be a handful on their own. Add external stresses of work, among other things, and that screams disaster. Don’t crash and burn. You need time to relax, unwind, and recharge, to fulfil the tasks ahead of you. We found out from a few moms, why it’s important for them to incorporate some ‘me time’ into their schedule and the ways in which they do it.
According to mother of one, Shanique Palmer, ‘me time’ is very important, because mom isn’t the only role you’ll ever have in your lifetime.
“I’m also a wife, a lover, a sibling, a daughter, a friend, a working professional and a child of God – in addition to being a mom. Make sure you’re not neglecting the other roles and other people in your life,” she shared.
She told Outlook, that when she had her newborn daughter, her boyfriend would take their baby and leave the house for the entire day once a week, just to facilitate her ‘me time’.
“I’d have a little spa day, watch Netflix and just relax or hang with my girlfriends with a bottle of wine.”
Single mother of one, Shonick McFarlane, declared that because being a parent is a full-time job, one can become drained, especially if he or she is a single parent.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup, so taking care of you is important. Once you do that, you are better able to take care of your child or children,” she added.
Her ‘me time’ away from her daughter, is spent meditating, going to the movies, spending time with girlfriends, going on a road trip or simply just enjoying a nice spa day.
“I do believe it is important to find ‘me time’ as a Mommy,” Tara Osbourne, mother of one, shared. Taking care of a child, a little human being, has its ups and downs and sometimes, she admitted, it can get frustrating. Mothers, she says, have to find the time to rejuvenate and clear their minds. To just take a break, so that they won’t be too overwhelmed with all they have to get done on a daily basis. Those activities can be of simple indulgence or reconnecting with a neglected passion.