Taking Care of Mom

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We homeschool moms spend almost every bit of time taking care of the kids:  teaching, feeding, pouring ourselves into them.  I know I find myself at the end of most days spent to the last drop.  I look back and realize I didn’t use any time taking care of myself.

I’m not talking about “ME” time that involves pedicures and tennis.  This is real, down to the core, attending to your own needs.  How many of us aren’t even doing that?  {raising hand}

About a year ago, I realized I was running out of fuel.  I stepped back and took a hard look at my choices and made some changes to get myself back on track.  I needed rest.  I needed spiritual refreshing, and I needed to take better care of my body.  I was grumpy and fussy and I’m just gonna say it….I wasn’t enjoying my family.

These changes have made such a deep impact on my life that I want to shout it from the rooftops….”Moms!!  Take care of yourselves, and your families will reap the rewards!!!!”

1. Sleep.  It’s a scientific fact.  Lack of sleep affects so many other things in your life that we must work to be sure we get enough.  Of course there are babies and sickness and issues that keep us from sleeping.  But for me, there was something I had complete control of, and I wasn’t doing it.

I would stay awake late at night in order to get things done.  It felt like it was my only extra quiet time, and I didn’t want to let that go.  But I did.  I started going to bed earlier, and the change was almost immediate.  I was better equipped to handle the days when I was getting more sleep at night.

2. Diet.  Yep.  I said it.  What you feed your body makes a difference in how you can minister to your family.  I stopped eating all sugar and wheat (you can read more about that here), and not only was I more focused and energetic, but I started losing weight.  Double bonus!

3. Exercise.  I discovered, much to my shock, that it’s not a four letter word!  I started walking and doing simple exercises, and I could not believe the benefit.  I should have known.  People say that on TV all the time, and that means it’s true, right?

4. Prayer.  I’d love to tell you that I had a regular prayer life before I made these changes, but I just never stuck with it.  Once I started making the other changes, the prayer came more naturally.  I had time (while I was exercising), I was more focused (from eating better), and I could stay awake long enough to listen to what God had to say.

5. Water.  That’s right, my friend.  I drink lots and lots of good old fashioned H2O.  No more sodas or juice or artificial sweeteners.  If you can’t cope with making some of these other changes, start with just drinking more water.

I want to close by saying that I know it’s not easy.  It sure wasn’t easy for me, and we are all in different seasons of our lives.  I really want to just encourage you to be more purposeful in how you treat your body and how you spend your time.  Before you pop those cookies into your mouth, think about it.  Is this the best thing for you?  If not, walk away.  You will be so much happier at the end of the day!

I now enjoy my days, I laugh more with my kids, I delight in them again.  That’s what it’s all about, folks.