Some time to reflect. 

As moms we go through many phases.  When we find out we’re pregnant we are extatic, filled with joy. Somewhere between the nausia, the heartburn, the paranoia and the bloatedness the fear kicks in. Can I do this? Will I be a good mom? Will I be able to keep this little person alive? Will my baby Love me?

Then that little one sees the light. We are filled with this overwhelming feeling of love. At that stage your entire life changes. Now it’s real! You are a mom!

As that little one grows you go through sleep deprevation, frustration and fear. The laughter, the proud feeling when they reach their milestone. Oh yes, and do you remember the research about milestones, the email subscriptions on what they should be able to do when. Terrible two’s, the ferocious four, pre-School, big school, high school...empty nest (not there yet, thank goodness).  

But the emotional roller coaster never ends. We spend our entire lives tending to every beck and call of our family, because that is how we express this immense love we feel for them. Make food when they are hungry (and oh boy can boys eat), take care of them when they are sick. Keep the house. Making sure they have clean clothes for school. Get them to school on time, pack school lunches and juices. And that favorite shirt is washed for the play-date. The extra murals, the projects, the show-and-tell. Mom makes everything happen and run smoothly. And we are so good at being moms (even when we feel guilty for not being good enough), that what we do many times go unnoticed, as if it all happens automatically. We get taken for granted. When we talk no-one even looks up, not the kids and not the hubby. And when chaos kicks in hubby jumps in and “saves” the day. And you feel like the crazy witch who lost her shit. Does any of this sound fimiliar? I thought I was the only one that felt this way, until I actually started chatting to other moms and realised I am not alone.

So what now? You need to take some time for yourself. Now, if you are anything like me, that would make you feel guilty, but believe you me, you need a time out mommy. You need to re-energize. Refill that proverbial cup. Only you can decide how you are going to do that. Some moms need a girls night out. For some moms relaxing (alone) in a bath or meditate is great. 

Make time for you and hubby, that is also important. It will make you understand eachother’s challenges, and make you more sympathetic towards eachother. That normally helps with frustrations levels when the kids might be driving you nuts. The same way we need to feel appreciated, so does daddy. 

Happy me (and we) time moms. Recharge, and LOVE your family to the full. 😘