Dear stressed out Mama,
I see you.
I see you relishing the amazing thing that motherhood is, while still feeling totally overwhelmed and exhausted at the end of the day. I see you being pulled in a hundred different directions and trying to make everything work for everyone else without a second thought to your own needs.
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I see the guilt you feel in those moments you do stop to take care of yourself. I see your grimace when others try to make you feel guilty for spending any time or money on yourself, and the shame that creeps in as you silently concede “maybe they’re right.”
To the mom trapped in the vicious cycle of waning patience that leads to yelling, yelling that leads to guilt and guilt that leads to more stress, I see you.
I see how the business depletes you of energy and makes this life feel like something you are just trying to survive.
Sweet, tired, trying stressed out mom. You are not a bad mom for thinking about taking care of yourself. In fact, you should absolutely do it. You know why? Because your family deserves a happy, healthy mom whose tank is filled rather than running on fumes.
So, do it, Mama. Take a second today to take care of yourself. Write in a journal for 10 minutes. No rules, just write whatever is floating around in your mind. Turn on some music. Pick a song or style that really makes you feel good and have a dance party in the kitchen. Get outside. Go for a walk or just sit on the porch and observe nature. Breathe some fresh air. Treat yourself! Get a special type of coffee or tea, a favorite snack, or fancy chocolate.
Call a friend and have an uninterrupted conversation. Breathe deeply: mediate, use an app, find what works for you, and go for it! Allow yourself to feel all the things. Give yourself permission to cry, listen to sad music, or hide under a blanket for a short time. Get it out, let it go, and get up feeling a bit lighter. And when you’ve done that, recognize the good that’s all around you and within you. Write it down, in a list or a poem or a letter to yourself, and keep it to read during the times of overwhelm.
Take a bubble bath, paint your toenails, do a face mask, deep condition your hair, go for the run, write the blog, bake the cookies. Whatever it is that you love, make it happen, and don’t be ashamed of it.
As you make a habit of caring for yourself, you’ll find yourself feeling lighter, rejuvenated. You’ll see the effects trickle down to the rest of your family.
Because when your children see you taking care of yourself, they will learn the value of prioritizing their own mental and emotional health. Because taking time for yourself will not so much take away something from them as it will provide them an opportunity to be compassionate and understanding.
The truth is, motherhood is hard and we are all doing our best. You are the mom that your kids need so remember, tired Mama, be kind to yourself!
You deserve it.