when do moms get to come first?
I spent the day at work, getting things ready for a crazy hectic week.We’re short staffed, and as a manager, I try to keep the stress from overburdening my team. Yes, I know it’s Sunday.
My son’s room is clean. The living room is neat. The kitchen is nice enough to cook in, and I’ve got laundry in the dryer. By contrast, my clothes are piled up on the bed, I’ve eaten dinner standing up five nights running, and I need a hair cut, a manicure, a pedicure, an annual checkup and a dermatologist. Honestly, I don’t know when I’ll get around to taking care of me. I know, we’re supposed to help ourselves first, and then take care of the passengers of life around us, but honestly? I can’t do it. I’m just not programmed that way. My gym card is growing dusty in my wallet while my backside is growing wider.
Do you take care of yourself, mom? Do you mother the mother, or do you neglect her?
I hope you’re taking care of yourselves out there. I’m going to take a long, soothing bath with something that smells good.
Tags: mama, Mental Health, mom, mommy, mother, put-yourself-first, spoil-yourself, take-care-of-yourselfRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Mothering
8 opinions for when do moms get to come first?
Selfmademom
Apr 30, 2007 at 12:32 pm
I have to say I have every Friday afternoon to myself, where I get my nanny for a couple extra hours each week so I can get a break. Between working and taking care of the baby, a girl’s gotta get her nails done! Good luck.
Christina
Apr 30, 2007 at 7:12 pm
That sounds like a great schedule, mom. I’m in favor of that!
Tracee Sioux
May 3, 2007 at 9:37 am
I find myself in the same situations. But, really, it’s terrible for us. So, I started a book club to give myself and mothers like me a self-indulgent break. You can read more about my take on the self vs. family debate at http://traceesioux.blogspot.com/2007/03/between-covers.html
No doubt, the balance is hard.
Amanda
May 30, 2007 at 10:52 am
I think a lot of moms have this problem, for example I dont even have a chance to do what I need to do at work without having to take care of everything for my fiance :|
Jennifer
Jun 2, 2007 at 1:22 pm
I absolutely need to be better about taking care of myself first. But life is just so busy. The boy, writing, chores. Yesterday I ate cereal… for dinner … at 2am. Honestly, that’s kind of lame. I have recently taken up morning Frisbee in the park with my boy though and that’s been fun.
SP
Jun 14, 2007 at 8:09 am
To be quite honest, I’m not sure that day ever comes. The minute you have kids, you go to the back of the line. It’s still that way and my kids aren’t little anymore.
Louise
Jun 14, 2007 at 5:41 pm
When I had my second child, there was another mother at my daughter’s preschool who was due with her third at the same time. Once our children were born, she always looked so tired and rundown. I asked her one day whether she ever got anytime to herself and she replied ‘no’.
My only sanity after the birth of number two was having long, soaking baths, whilst immersing myself in a great book. I don’t know how some mums dedicate themselves 100% to their families, without taking some ‘me’ time. I think it is really important.
Erica
Jun 24, 2007 at 7:19 am
I tell myself everyday that I am going to start taking more time out for me, but since my husband has been deployed I feel like that is a lost cause. I haven’t had a hair cut in 5 months (since daughter #2 was born), the only nail polish I own is thick as Karo syrup, and my make-up might as well be taken away by a biohazard team. I am still wondering where all of those “more than happy to help while the hubby is deployed” people went.
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