One child stopped doing dishes and said, “Wow, that is dark.” I had to chuckle inside. That WAS dark! But I realized it wasn’t really them. I had just failed to cushion my time with enough rest. To be fair, we have seven kids at home, but I wasn’t leaving any space for reflection or quiet. I was letting worries overtake me.
We have added three kids to our home in five months, including an international adoption. And let me tell you, if you have ever tried to parent a child that speaks a different language than you, well, you are missing out — on a lot of frustration. But as my Mom always says: you train people how to treat you. What you put up with, you get. And I guess I need to show the kids that Mama needs some downtime. It is my gift to them, so when they grow up I will send considerate people out into the world.
You are welcome, children. Now leave me alone and shut my door.
We all have stressors that take their toll on us. Jobs, kids, marriages, family dynamics. Our fast-paced culture is not easy to keep up with. As far as self-care goes, I feel that a good rule of thumb is [to] take short amounts of time. But take them often. This looks different for all of us, but here are some ideas:
- A [20-minute] walk.
- A cup of tea with a valium in it. (kidding)
- A hot shower.
- Prayer.
- A drive while listening to your favorite movie.
- A foot rub.
- A phone call to a friend.
- A good book.
- A manicure by your [8]-year-old. (You get what you pay for.)
- A meal out with a friend.
- A music lesson.
Just stop to breathe and allow yourself some slack. Friend, you are not everything to everyone, so don’t try to be.
