For those who follow The Wonder Weeks, we’ve just entered into Leap 7 and it’s been a real doozy. Little A is also on the verge of taking his first steps, cutting TWO teeth, and going through a growth spurt. This mama is exhausted. One thing I’ve learned as a mom though is that the moments you get to yourself are rare and fleeting. Moments I do get to breathe I have learned to take complete advantage of to recharge myself so I’m ready for the next round of play, nursing, or fussiness.
Don’t be a Hero
Even if you’re a single parent, there is no reason to take on every single task, every single time. Whether it’s your husband, your mom, or your best friend, I’m sure there is someone in your life who would love to take the opportunity to love on that baby you spend all day caring for. Take advantage of this.
It took me until I was nearly burnt-out to learn to accept help. But, believe me, a burnt-out mama is no good for the family. Take time, even if it’s a few minutes throughout the day, to separate yourself from the kiddos and breathe. Take the help when it’s offered, believe me.
Read
I always enjoy diving into a good book. Just the other night, it took me 2 HOURS of rocking, nursing, and singing to get little A to finally fall asleep. I stepped out, exhausted, only to remember the dinner dishes piled in the sink. In moments like these, it’s so easy to become overwhelmed. Do you know what I did? I skipped the dishes, sprawled out on the couch, and read a few chapters in my book.
I then had the stamina to get up 4 more times during the night to care for my fussy baby, which resulted in the dishes not getting done until the morning. And you know what? The world didn’t end.
Take a Bath
It’s not very often anymore, but I relish in the opportunities I am able to fill the tub up with bubbles, line the bathroom with candles, and sink deep into the hot water. Nothing relaxes my muscles like a hot bath, and the smell of burning candles is enough to help me drift off.
I often find myself in the tub when I’m extremely stressed or overwhelmed- it really is so relaxing.
Take a Walk
Sometimes, you just have to get out. This is such a great way to recharge if you can’t pass the baby off to someone. Fresh air, sunlight, and a bit of exercise is always refreshing. Hiking is one of my favorite activities for this very reason. There is nothing like strapping your baby to your chest and exploring nature.
Take a Nap
If there’s anything you need, it’s probably sleep. I’ve learned to live on much less sleep than I used to, but there are still times when I get so tired that my quality as a mother and wife suffers because of that. Little A is 10-months-old, and there are still many times that I sleep when he sleeps- sometimes it’s the only way!
Finding the perfect balance between being a mom and being a person can be tough. I often find myself stretched so thin in the mom department that I have no time or energy left for self-care.
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that I’m not just ‘mommy’ or ‘honey’, I’m also Savannah, and I have to care for me too.
Until next time,
Savannah
Oh my, yes! The power of a nap is an amazing, invigorating thing!
I think it's important to remind moms that we need a recharge every now and again. We often forget this important thing when we get swept up in making sure our kiddos are well taken care of.
Great post, thank you for sharing!
You're definitely right! Naps are my absolute favorite, haha (: Thank you so much for reading <3
Love this post! Such a simple concept, but after days or weeks of exhaustion…making these simple things a priority can be life-changing!
I definitely, definitely agree!! Thank you so much for reading-I'm so happy it was of some help <3
Bath time is my big luxury!! Love it!
#KCACOLS
A bath is definitely my favorite way to relax. I have a stash of bath treats like body scrubs and bath bombs for when I get time to lie back and relax.
#KCACOLS
I like to combine two of those – read in the bath! its my ideal downtime and is my favourite thing to do if I get a spare 5 minutes #KCACOLS
Oh man, there really is nothing like a good bath! Thanks for reading <3
You know what, I've never tried a bath bomb before!! :O I think it's about time I spoil myself a little, haha. Thanks for reading!
totally agree – id love to do lots of these things but we dont have any family/ friends around us to help with childcare etc so I don't really get any time off unless it is the weekend and my husband is home. It's definitely hard, sometimes i feel so envious of other mums I know who have their own mums closeby to call on for an hour here or there! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday
Great advice. I haven't had a bath in two years though 🙁 #KCACOLS
I absolutely love the first point on your list. It is something I still find hard at times, but it's important for my sanity to not feel like I have to do everything myself! x #KCACOLS