Needing A Break will not Make you a Bad Mom.
Yes, you read that right Mama, wanting to take a break from mommin will not make you less of a mom. I'm not sure who started this rumor but let me tell you, getting a break from hearing Mommy I want, Mommy I need, if only for a few hours. Mama, your physical, mental, and emotional health needs you to get a break before you break.
As we all know far too well, being a mom is hard; Finding balance in your life as a mom is harder. You are constantly exhausted and overwhelmed; most days, the only break I get is when my daughter goes to bed. For some time, I felt burned out by the never-ending task of Motherhood. I often found myself on the brink of tears, trying to juggle all aspects of my life. Instead of reaching out to anyone for help, I would get frustrated and moody. That frustration led me to yell more at my daughter and not be the present parent I wanted to be. I was constantly wondering why no one could see that I needed help or a moment by myself to gather my thoughts. Being a mom is the only job you'll ever have where you're expected to have it all figured out without a day of training. Parenting books can tell you what to expect during pregnancy and sleep training but not how to deal with the emotions behind parenting. Here are four ways you can take a break and unwine
“Being a mom is hard; Finding balance in your life as a mom is harder.”
1. Call on your Village
We've all grown up hearing the phrase it takes a village to raise a child, and I never knew how true this statement was until I had my daughter. Your village should include anyone in your life who you feel is there to step in whenever you need anything, from an extra hand to a listening ear. Don't be afraid to ask for help; there is always someone in your village willing to jump at the chance to be of any assistance to you. I couldn't have made it through grad school without the help of my village when I needed time to study, write papers, and do assignments.
2. Mom Night Out
Grab the wine glasses and get in formation. A girl's night is the perfect de-stressor for moms. We get to catch up on what's going on in each other lives and carry on adult conversations without a child interrupting. Whether your heading out or staying in and fake watching movies. The time away allows us to be woman again, it is hard to remember who we are outside of mother. It’s easy to get lost in raising our families and working hard. This is one of the things I treasure about girls night for a few hours you glimpse of the person you were before you were someone's mother, wife, girlfriend.
3. Spend some time Alone
Sometimes the best thing you can do is have some quiet time. Find a place where you can be alone, go for a walk, go to the park, or get the kids off to a family member so you can the house to yourself. One of the best feelings in the world is sitting in the house by yourself with a glass of wine and your favorite tv shows.
4. Actually Rest
When you get a couple of kid-free hours, actually get some rest, don’t fill your time off with store runs and errands. I’m guilty of this whenever my daughter spends the night with her Grammy. I decide it’s the perfect time to deep clean the house; I end up staying up to 2 am cleaning. It’s ok to do nothing, lay down, take a nap, sleep in late. We don’t always have to be checking things off a do-to list.
I've learned to prioritize myself and get breaks as much as possible. It's never selfish to put yourself first. My daughter doesn't need a Supermom; she needs a well-rounded rested mother.
