Have you ever thought, “Here I am taking care of my home, my career, my family, but who is taking care of me?” The answer is in fact the same person as all those other things, you. It is just as important for you to take care of yourself so that you can be the absolute best parent you possibly can be. The unfortunate truth is, that typically as mothers we put everything and everyone before ourselves that at the end of the day, there is just no time left to spare. I challenge each of you as mothers, fathers, grandparents, etc. to find time each day, even if it’s just 10 minutes, to take care of the caregiver (that means you J). If you need help coming up with some possible ways to do that, here are a few suggestions from the National Exchange Club Foundation website (http://www.preventchildabuse.com/documents/pt-selfcare.pdf):
Taking Care of Yourself
1. Find time for yourself.
· Nap when your baby is napping.
· Take 10 minutes after your child falls asleep at night.
· Teach your child your favorite hobby.
2. Find time to laugh with your child.
· Watch a funny movie together.
· Tell silly jokes or stories.
3. Talk with a friend on the phone.
4. Read a chapter of your favorite book.
5. Remember to exercise. Try it with your child!
6. Squeeze in 10 minutes for a cup of tea.
7. Allow yourself to go to bed 20 minutes early!
8. Allow someone to watch your child when possible and get away!
If you’d like other suggestions of ways to take care of yourself or if you have any questions, feel free to call the Center at (706) 290-0764 or email me directly anytime april@exchangeclubfrc.org
Thoughts to Ponder as Parents:
We are never alone in this journey called “Parenthood”. Not one single parent received an instruction manual with all of life’s answers when their child was born. We are all in this together, learning from other parents, figuring out what works and what doesn’t. Two of the most important things I’ve learned since becoming a parent are: 1) We have to be able to admit when our way of parenting just isn’t working; and 2) We have to keep an open mind and be willing to learning new and different ways of parenting.
Posted by April, Director of Family Services
