Self-Care

Self-care is so important- that might not be a term you're accustomed to, but we use it a lot in my work. It means taking time to take care of YOU- your body, your emotions, your spirit. It's different for every human. For some, it may be going to church, or going for a run, or shopping. We take so much time to encourage our students to engage in self-care- and yet, for many of us adults, we let it slide.

If you're a mom, it's really an area that we push to the side- our focus is so much on our kids and spouse. Sports, homework, laundry, packing lunches. Kisses, and ferrying kids this way and that.

For single moms, it's even more pushed down on the priority list. When kiddos might be with our ex partners- we're grocery shopping, cleaning, doing laundry- because when the kiddos are with us we're very focused on meeting their needs and getting extra love in. It's the few minutes of quiet to listen to a podcast, or catch up on Salvage Dogs, or Grey's Anatomy.

And yet, it needs to move up the list. I've been a cranky witch for the last two weeks with DST- my oldest is struggling with sleep, work has been a bit wonky pants. It's been stressful with a capital S.
So I went all renegade and decided I needed a week of self care.

With me, that looked like making dinners that I enjoyed, and weren't necessarily kid friendly- I mean, I have cereal. They aren't going to starve.

Overlooking the fact that my kitchen floor desperately needs a good "hands and knees" scrub.

Having the groceries delivered even though I am perfectly capable of going to the market with the boys (and who am I kidding- this is a VERY regular part of my self care)

Finding a hair stylist that comes to my house, colors my hair, colors M's hair, and does cuts for us all. (FINE that was last week!)

Getting a fantastic massage (again, by someone that came to my house) that left me feeling freaking amazing. Like a gladiator- my neck doesn't hurt, my jaw is loosey goosey again (I'm a grinder), and my IT band got the release it was so desperately seeking.

Letting go of my perceptions of packed lunches and just making sandwiches for each kid.

Making reservations to have dinner with a friend, sans children.

Whatever your self care is, get on it. You need it, mama. And if you say you don't, you probably need it, more than you know.