This morning I had a realization, I know that I try everyday to be the best mother that my son could ever have, but I often feel I come up short. I change his diaper whenever it needs changing, I put clean clothes on him everyday and make sure he is clean and smells nice. I read him stories and hold him. I hug him and I get up for him in the mornings. I kiss him and make him take naps when he is tired. I feed him when it is meal time or snack time. I let him play and learn and grow. I pray with him and sing with him. I put up with his tantrums. I put his toys away. I make sure he can play with other children, and I teach him everything about life. I make him giggle and see him be happy.
But I often forget a really important thing about being a parent. And that is making sure that I am always taking care of myself. I mean, I feed myself when it is meal time, I go to bed at a decent hour, I shower and make sure I am clean. But I don't often do many things to keep up on my mental health. I should be exercising more, and reading more, and singing more. I should be doing crafts, because when I take a break for myself, it allows me to have a different mindset than the every day, mundane, routine. It allows me to remain sane and healthy. By me not taking care of my own mental health, I am actually hurting my son. I am not giving him the best possible mothering that I can.
So I ask you, do you do things to balance out your own lives? Is it affecting your parenting, or relationships with your family and friends? It is like when you fly somewhere and the sturdiest is going through instructions on what you do in case of a crash, and they say mothers should put on their oxygen masks first, before helping their children with theirs. If we as mothers are not stable, who's to say that we are going to raise healthy, happy kids?
Food for thought. Have a wonderful day!
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