Taking a Mom-ent…

I didn’t know that being a stay at home mom was going to be so isolating. I don’t know where my time goes. As soon as I open my eyes it’s like GOGOGO! Morning rush to get to school. I feed and chase the kids do house chores and before I know it, it’s time to pick up Vie and then the afternoon rush begins. Homework nap time (for the baby) and I start dinner. Baby wakes like 45 minutes later. We eat dinner and cleanup and one second later its bath and bedtime… a blur of a day.

Every day it’s the same thing. Every day I pick up the same toys. Every day I face the same struggle of thinking of something to make for dinner. Every day is like Groundhog Day! A mom life repetition where we care for our family and care for the house but never have a chance to care for ourselves. It’s maddening and it can really cause you to spiral into depression if you’re constantly running on that same treadmill. When I was working full time I had people to talk to about things other than whatever Daniel Tiger was doing. I problem solved beyond toddler negotiations where gummy bears are the preferred currency. Although, I feel so incredibly blessed and thankful that I am able to stay home with the kids. I also miss human contact! I don’t know what it is about motherhood that makes you feel like you must give up parts of yourself for your kids. Is it the Latina thing? I don’t know. But, I do know that we can’t continuously give and never make time to take a moment for yourself. Even though it’s hard to take a “MOMent” it’s important! You need those brain breaks. You need a release of that stress and anxiety that the constant herding of cats causes. AND YOU SHOULD NOT FEEL GUILTY. I am saying this more for myself than for you, because the guilt I feel leaving the kids is REAL!

Recently, I took a MOMent and went out for lunch with one of my best girl friends and I am still hanging onto the laughs, and the mental break that MOMent brought me. Even if most of our conversations were about the kids, I had someone to gripe about RoBlox with and laugh about its constant domination of our lives. Mom stresses are much easier to handle when you realize you have someone fighting in the same trench as you.

“Mom stresses are much easier to handle when you realize you have someone fighting in the same trench as you.”

This is a reminder (not just for whoever is reading this really, for myself too) to try to take time for yourself. Don’t forget about you! You are still there and you deserve to care for yourself too. However that looks. Some days it could be just getting around to cut your toe nails. Other days it can be lunch and laughs with your best girl! The laundry can wait. Unless, your husband has no underwear left then throw that load in, but remember to do something that gives you LIFE. It’s ok to have fun and laugh without the kids too. Even if you won’t do it for you, do it for your family. That renewed energy that taking a “MOM”ent gives you is sure to trickle down back to your kids and spouse.