Thanks to Crystal Light for sponsoring this post. To learn more about how Crystal Light can flavor your day with 30 refreshing flavors, visit http://www.facebook.com/crystallight.
It's not always easy to be a never-stay-at-home mom of three kids, and even harder sometimes to remember to take time for myself, but it really is necessary for my sanity and my kids sanity too! I thought about the saying about being alone in a crowd, and wanted to share a few things about taking time for myself... non-traditionally.
The other day, I was getting frustrated with Liam - our battle of wills was not going in my favor and I was feeling like I was just not in the right place to continue the battle without boiling over and doing something I'd regret. I made sure he was safe and left the room to take a time out. It can be as simple as counting or deep breathing, or as long as a 'Mommy's Night Out' with the girls, but stepping away from a stressful situation gives you time to reflect and recharge.
Beyond walking away from the frustrating situation, here are a few other ways that I take timeout in my day:
Get out - go for a walk, a run or even just to play with the kids in the backyard or the park. Go to the store, have a picnic, go to the beach... and then also set aside time to get out by yourself or with hubby! By changing the scenery, you can change your mood!Become part of a MOMS club or other organization - the moms club I joined when Liam was a baby has been a source of support and friendship - and I know that even when I can't make events, I can call on their support to help me through...
Volunteer - there are organizations who can use your help, and some will even let you bring the kids to help! I volunteer at Robyn's school in the media center and Erik comes with me - he has a great time watching the steady stream of kids and teachers and I get out of the house, see adults and contribute to her school.
Change your routine - if you feel like you're in a rut, shake things up and do the same things in a different way.
Challenge yourself - one of my favorite ways to do housework (and really the only way I like to do it) is to set the microwave timer for the amount of time I think it will take to do a task and then try to beat the clock! Reward yourself by adding the remaining time to your break!
Exercise - stretching, yoga, running, jogging or just playing Wii fit will help you to relax and stay fit - double bonus!
Get a sitter/let them attend pre-school - I know that we, as stay-at-home moms are the primary caregivers for our children, but that doesn't mean that a few hours with a sitter will scar them for life - it's sometimes good for them to experience change and great for recharging your batteries! As a child, I used to live for visits to Nana's house to drink tea out of china cups, and I know that my mother looked forward to her break too. If you live far away from family and are on a tight budget, consider finding or starting a daycare co-op with other moms and share the load!
I think that being the best mommy to my kids and wife to my husband is to sometimes step away and get perspective - even from the really good days - recharging my batteries, as it were, gives me the opportunity to come back to my parenting role refreshed and more relaxed and better able to be as balanced as I like to act!
Remember, visit http://www.facebook.com/crystallight to learn more about how Crystal Light can flavor your day with 30 refreshing flavors. I was selected and paid for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.
