Day 2 of Becoming A Better Parent
Balance… Where does your time go and what are your priorities? I think Balance is so very important. Your children & family come first, but I am a strong believer that everyone needs something in their life that is just for them – and no ladies, I am not just referring to that big bottle of Australian Shiraz on your counter! lol But what do you do in your life, that you don’t need to share with anyone else, and makes you happy? Is it having an hour to yourself every day to work out or go for a walk? Is it socializing and having nights out with friends? Is it a class you’re taking? If you don’t have something that is just for you, you need to get on board with this whole philosophy.
I love being with my daughter, and my husband. And no matter what happens, I put them ahead of everything else. R and Z are who make me the happiest, but also the tiredest.
Stay at home parents especially. If you have a working partner, and the end of the day rolls around, you’re exhausted and run down. What is it that you want to do to feel refreshed and ready to take on the last few hours of the day? For me: it was going to work out. Now that I haven’t done that in a while, my one thing is a shower. I actually prefer to wait until the evening to have my shower. Knowing that daddy is home, and I don’t need to be listening for a waking baby, means I can take my time, shave my legs, or just relax in the hot water. On weekends, I like to try and get out with my friends at least one of the nights. Rather its a movie, or a night on the town – I love to see them. It keeps me feeling young (as I am pretty much the only one of my close group of girlfriends with a baby) and connected. Of course R is already in bed, either at home with Daddy, or grandparents. However, when Friday rolls around, I am also completely content with a hot shower, pyjamas, and a glass of wine or a hot cup of tea, in bed, movie on, and completely uninterrupted.
Other areas of your life where you may need to find balance: at work, in your relationship, your finances, or your health. For me: I work during nap time, my husband and I have dedicated our 3rd Friday or Saturday of every month to date night, we have a joint bank account for all house/family expenses, and after a lot of hard time/energy/work spent on losing 25 pounds, I try to make healthy choices everyday.
I love the persepective of Balance from Chuck Galozzi at personal-development.com… He says you need to learn to balance your life in two ways (1) Time, (2) Attitude/Perspective. If you don’t see the importance of making positive changes in order to balance your life — you won’t. And if you don’t create the time — you can’t.
Click below to read what DadofDivas has to say about balancing your life… They’ve also provided a few great links as well.
Day 2: Blance Out Your Life DadofDivas on Twitter
How are you balancing your life?
Have a great Tuesday every body!
I think so many new mothers feel they don’t have the right to take some time for just themselves, that they should feel content being all mother and wife. I love hanging out with my children and my husband, but between work, household chores, and finding time to do what they all want, sometimes I feel like I’ve lost ‘Shannon’. Afterall, there was a person inside here before I was a mother and a wife.
Something I have learned over the years it that if I take some time for myself, I’m actually a better mother and wife to my family. I appricate them more and I am less stressed. It took me a few years to realize this and not feel guilty about it, but now I’m proud that I have recognized this about myself and it’s become expected with my family that Mom gets some alone time.
My favorite thing to do, and I know I’m really lucky, but about once every 3 months or so, I stay at my sisters house for the weekend. My sister is single and lives in the city, (I live in the suburbs), and I will go there Friday after work and come home Sunday morning. We don’t do much, which in fact, is what I like about it! I get to hang out with my sister, uninterupted, laugh, drink wine, do face masks, maybe go window shopping….but I also get to sleep in, and only be responsible for myself! No one in the morning asking me for socks, or lunch, we can eat late …and shocker, my sister dresses herself!! I always come back from these weekends, relaxed, rejuvinated and appreciating my family so much!
I completeeetely agree that when I have some time to myself rather its a few minutes or a night – I am a better mom and wife too. When R was very young, I needed just 20 minutes to myself, and I would come back more patient, and appreciative and loving!