Six Self Care Tips for Moms

It can be all too easy to lose your spark under the weight of being a responsible parent. That spark may be flickering under the surface, or be all but extinguished, but it is essential to rebuild the fire. Your children may complain at first, but modeling good self care is another aspect of parenting.

Whether you work out of the home or not, the pressure to continually give everything away is not healthy and does not model self respect. Turn your parenting on yourself; take a look at your habits and see what you would say if you were your own mommy.

Take responsibility for yourself. Take care your basic needs. Be your own mommy for a moment and think about how much sleep you are getting and what you are eating. Do you need to see a physician for any medical problems, do not continually put yourself on the back burner. Not only will taking care of your basic needs make you a better mom, it is also important for your own sake.

Write it down. If you do not already journal, start writing down a basic wish list. What do you want to do with yourself? A nap may be number one on the list, but there also may be things you want to do in the upcoming future like visiting a museum or learning a foreign language. The wish list is not just for wishful thinking, as you scribble out different possibilities your life takes on more depth. You get back in touch with who you are besides, mom. You may not have time right now to tackle something big, but who knows, baby steps are a good first start.

Train your children. Start working yourself out of job when your children are young. Give them responsibilities and clear direction. The time spent will be well worth it as they become more adept. Aside from delegating jobs, you can also train your children to play independently while you do something for yourself. Use a timer to create a mom's time-out and let them know ahead of time what they are allowed to do during this time so you are not continually interrupted with requests.

Maintain your boundaries. Say yes only when you mean it. This is not just in dealing with your own children. If mom is always stressed and on the go because she does not know how to say no, this is what your kids will remember. Examine your need for approval if saying no is a problem for you.

Develop a network of support. People who are on your side no matter what are invaluable. It is good for your kids to see you interacting with friends. Limit your contact with negative, non-supportive types as much as possible. This goes back to boundaries as well. Refuse to accept abusive behavior, and make no excuses for people who do this. More than a lecture, your actions sends a strong message to you daughters and sons.

Feed your soul. There are numerous ways to accomplish this, but the key is to make it a priority. You can listen to music you enjoy, watch movies and read books that inspire you. Whatever it takes to fill your cup so to speak. Pursuing a hobby also falls into this category; painting, running, playing an instrument are all possibilities that can feed your soul. Even a half hour a day can seem decadent if you are not used to making time for yourself.

Modeling excellent self-care is not selfish, you are giving your children a glimpse at a positive way to navigate life. Stoke the fire of your inner bonfire to enhance your life and the lives of those around you.

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