Prevent the burn-out, take a deep breath and be still.
Akia & Krista
Something was in the air this last week… or in the water… either way, every mom I know seemed to be in a state of exhaustion! Not so unusual you might say, kids are exhausting! A joy and a treat but EXHAUSTING! Throw in a well meaning but “2 steps behind” husband who needs a detailed “spell it out” kind of list in order to get basic tasks done (faster to just do it yourself kind of deal) and you can’t help but wonder how it is that women traditionally live longer than men?!
There shouldn’t be a title “Superwoman”, all women are SUPER heroes in my book! Don’t get me wrong, I love men and I know that in a team (which we all know a family is) you don’t want every player to have the same skill set, complimentary talents and balancing dynamics are the beauty of a healthy relationship, men are magnificent and when they are “one of the good ones” they are irreplaceable! However, woman are my inspiration and i find even the simplest of days or the most chaotic sequence of errands enjoyable when spent with a good lady friend.
My dear friend and mother of two year old twin boys (resembling circus acrobats or slapstick clowns more than little boys), greets me most mornings with a text that reads “urggghhhhhh!”, I couldn’t agree with her more! I used to think I was a morning person, that was when my morning started with a slow roll into the day. Even when my toddler was a baby and still had night feeds, it seems like it was less of an effort to peel my eyes open and un-glue my head from the pillow (oh, my pillow, my trusty friend who I don’t see enough of). Maybe it’s a boy thing, but the 2year old energy is a source of a huge amount of laughter… conspicuous wrinkles and dark circles around my eyes!
I am of course not just babbling on about how tiring it is to be a mom in order to be negative or even cranky about it, being a mom truly is the greatest bounty and source of joy I have ever experienced, every single wrinkle and fatigued muscle is totally worth it! I do however think that sometimes we need a little push in the direction of self-care and maybe even a good friend to give us permission to go do something 100% totally just for yourself!
Sometimes, stepping outside, walking round the block is enough and sometimes something more involved like a mani/pedi or a spa day is more appropriate! How about taking a fun dance class or sipping a slow latte in a boutique coffee shop while scribbling a “train of consciousness” on the back of your shopping list!
There is a reason massive corporations give their workers scheduled breaks through out the day and I can guarantee it’s not because they have a conscience! Burn-out ends up costing more in efficiency and quality, we are so much more productive and effective if we have a few moments in the day where we can be still and re-energize our spirits.