Mama Time (yeah, right!)
May 27 2011
There’s no doubt about it. Moms have the toughest job on earth. We pour everything we’ve got into our careers, and then some. I can totally understand the need to recharge our batteries every once in a while. I used to think that scheduling some “mama time” was a bit selfish, but then I realized that it’s all a matter of perspective. Mama time—time to just step back and recharge—isn’t a bad thing at all. But you’ve got to set aside some ground rules:
Mama Time Rule #1—It is NOT an escape. If you are looking to run off and get your nails done because you’ve got to get away from the kids, then you need to mend your attitude before you run off to mend a broken nail. Family is not something you should feel the need to escape from. If it is, you should be focusing more on making your home a more joyful place to be in and improving the relationships in your family. Getting away for a couple of hours isn’t going to fix the situation. It may even make it worse because you will resent coming home. If you do feel the urge to escape, stop and ask yourself, “what can I do right now to bring joy to this situation?” And then do it!
Mama Time Rule #2—It needs to be planned. If you don’t change the oil regularly in your car, then the engine is likely to burn up. This same principle applies to mama time. You need continual healthy doses of recharging so you don’t crash and burn from stress and fatigue. Blair knows that I love getting up early on Saturday mornings to go on a long walk. This time charges me up so I have more of myself to invest in my home and family. Don’t wait until you’ve pulled all your hair out to seek some solitude. Plan for it now and do it regularly. You’ve got to take care of yourself so you can better take care of everyone else.
Mama Time Rule #3—It must be positive. Think of it this way: mama time is a time to recharge. So make sure you are filling your tank with some good, positive juice so you can thrive in your job. If your friends want to hang out, but you know that they tend to have negative spirits and drag you down, then it’s okay to say, “no.” Whatever you do to recharge should leave you feeling more positive and acting more productive. Perhaps you like to write music, sketch pictures, peruse a bookstore, take a class, exercise. Whatever it is, make sure it brings you up, not down.
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