Mama Mantra: It’s NOT Selfish to Take Care of Yourself

Posted March 5, 2019 by Prairie Wife - 2 comments

It’s NOT selfish to take care of yourself.

This is one of the hardest lessons of Motherhood.

At least for me.

It’s one I keep relearning over and over and OVER again.

And even when I’ve done a great job practicing self-care, I still experience that ever so present guilt.

As I sit and drink a cup of green tea and watch trashy television while dishes sit in the sink, and dust gathers on the tea set, that guilt sneaks in.

As I pay a sitter to watch the Cowkids so I can spend my afternoon off having fun with a friend.

When I let LittleMissH stay an extra hour at daycare so I can hit the gym for Yoga or go for a run.

In the back of my mind, I still can hear that voice whisper “selfish.”

But I stand firm that it’s not.

I KNOW that two hours of snowshoeing allows me to return home ready to be present and able to be more patient.

An hour of alone time watching trashy TV allows me to have enough energy to let the Cowkids help me make dinner and make it through an entire evening without losing my temper.

Two weeks of regularly working out results in more confidence, less jealousy, fewer judgy thoughts about others and more kisses for The Cowboy.

Regular facials give me the confidence to wear less makeup or go makeup free…which means it takes me less time to get ready and the Cowkids hear fewer sharp words when we are trying to get out of the house.

I want to point out, that self-care looks different for everyone.

For some of you, it may be sitting in the car playing on your phone with a $5 cup of Starbucks coffee.

For others, it’s an afternoon sewing or crafting in quiet.

Maybe it’s playing the latest greatest shoot ’em up video game, or riding your horse.

It may take some time and trying new things to learn what fills YOU with peace and joy!

Here is a trick I have found that helps to ease my “mom guilt”.

When I schedule time for me, I also schedule in time to play with The Cowkids.

And as my beloved Rachel Hollis says, never break a promise to yourself.

So, if you scheduled that time, treat it as sacred and follow through!

Every other Friday afternoon it’s “fun mom time” and we do something that is all about family togetherness (no phone and no distractions).

I’m trying to be more present when we are together. I’m leaving the TV off, trying to stay off my phone more, and making the time to include them in daily activities.

It’s a constant battle, but PLEASE believe me when I say…