You Matter: Take Care of Yourself First

Many mothers feel that they must do it all; otherwise, they feel like a failure. When you take care of your children, your spouse and your home while managing a job it can cause you to fall into a state of depression or have a mental breakdown. If this happens, you suffer, as well as your family. It is even more difficult when you have a child with a disability. Remember that you matter. Take care of yourself first so that you can take care of your family.

Leaving the Guilt Behind

When you have a child born with a birth defect such as bilateral clubfoot or if you have a child that has been involved in an accident it can overwhelm you with guilt and make you feel responsible. Accidents occur every minute of everyday.  When your child is involved in an accident it has an impact on the entire family. I know of someone whose child lost a limb.  Thankfully, with advancement in technology, they were able to acquire a prosthetic leg. To make the process of dressing easier they invested in AFO socks online. Another useful tip following an accident is to be involved in your child’s care by asking questions of the doctors, nurses and therapy team. Have a daily routine and plan activities to help cope.

Easing Up on Your Responsibilities

The first thing you need to understand is that no one person can do it all for any length of time. Putting yourself in charge of every duty and responsibility is not good for your health. Accepting this fact will allow you to delegate some of the responsibilities to others and free up time for yourself.

There Is No Supermom

“You don’t have to be wonder-woman. In fact there is no such thing as supermom. Supermom” is a phrase that is applied to mothers who seem to be capable of doing everything with little effort. They keep a spotless home, tend to the needs of their children, be it doctor’s visits, sports and activities, host super parties and have a wonderful relationship with their children and spouse or so it seams.  What you don’t know is that behind closed doors, most of these moms live with anguish, frustration and the fear of not doing enough for their spouse and children.

Area of Interest

You take care of others every day from doing the laundry to driving kids back and forth to team practices and games. What’s missing is time dedicated to you. In order to remain in a good place mentally, you need to feel alive. Find something that interests you such as painting or gardening and incorporate that into your schedule.

Look Good and Feel Good

When you focus on others ahead of you, you tend to let yourself go, especially if you work from home. You may stop wearing makeup or add a few pounds. The good news is that you are in charge of your life. And, once you realize that you matter, just as much as every other member of your immediate family, you can change things. Start a new routine that begins with a morning workout followed up with a healthy diet. Then shower and dress for the day as if you are leaving the home for work. A few simple changes will energize you and pick you up quickly. When you start to feel good about you, the good feeling spreads throughout the home.

There is nothing to feel guilty about when you tend to your needs first. In fact, by taking care of yourself, you feel mentally satisfied. As a result, you remain happy and content, which makes you a better parent and spouse.