Thinking:
I LOVED this article.
I have been here-all of it, almost every symptom, Moms of many, pay attention!!! Moms of teens and little ones, for sure, pay attention.
The biggest changes I made or was forced to make:
1. Saying no to my children. Even about little things, that made my day, especially my summer, too crazy. Or to anyone-it’s so easy to say yes in the moment, and hard to say no. Because I COULD do it, but not without a fast pace all day, and fast pace=stress.
2. Relaxing about everything-the way my house looks inside and out, etc. It is really a mind set. There are only so many hours in every day. Make a list of priorities. Keep cutting until you get to where you can breathe normally, and not feel stressed inside. For everyone that is different and it is not a contest, it’s about self-awareness, even if it means you can only meet the top three priorities-God, self, family.
3. Planning every week how I could take care of myself better-little fun things that made me feel good about myself.
4. Delegating more work to outside sources, or children, or my husband. I was doing it all myself mostly, and I just couldn’t bare the load – or I could, but not without a cost to my well-being.
5. Eating healthy. This is probably the biggest thing. I can tell immediately if I get off track and I feel more sensitive to this than ever, since I went through chemo.
6. Sleeping enough, but I will also say that wasn’t really a choice, just my body, and earlier in my life, my children.
Playing:
I bought this magnetic white boardand we love it. My intention was to do a quote a week but I also find myself using it for weekend plans so everyone is aware of what is going on here. Janey keeps switching it to the dishwasher to use it for fun.
Kendamas-Isaac is an expert on these things, but he has brothers and cousins all trying to keep up.
Magnetic chess set-this set gets moved around the house a lot, and with all the rain we’ve had, it is getting used a lot.
Janey was dying for one of these “flippy” shirtswhich are all the rage and begged for one-I found this one on Amazon that is so cute and she was thrilled at her surprise gift.
These areTHE BEST reading lights. Rechargeable (no more batteries!!!) and it only takes a few minutes too. We all have them and I’ve given them as gifts.
Reading:
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone
I am reading this book right now and it is hilarious but touching also.
Excellent self care advice – #1 is soooo hard!! I am going to buy the book light immediately- mine always die fast!! Loved Maybe You Should Talk to Someone..so interesting, touching. Currently reading Ask Again Yes and definitely am already engaged in the story.
Love it all, and how you said you could do it, but not without stress, that is so key and I often forget it. What are the little things you do for yourself from #3?
Take a bath. Buy myself something new at TJ Maxx. Go for a walk with a friend. Go anywhere alone-to the library, to the store. Go to lunch with a friend. Do my nails. Take time to dress and do my hair and makeup in the morning so I feel pretty. Wear a scent that makes me happy (anything that smells like summer). Take a nap. Make a really good salad and don't get up for anything until I eat it.
Thank you for the stress article. I'm going to print it and leave it casually (maybe in more than one place) around the house. My husband has been really ill this past year, and I have no doubt that stress played a significant role.
On a lighter note, I bought the book light. Thank you!
I have been able to relax a bit more about how the house looks and even relax about how it looks when people come over. My goal, rather than perfect, is "not gross". It is a real life house that has 2 parents and 6 kids living in it. I have relaxed. My teenage girls, on the other hand, are horrified and spout off with as much derision as they can muster (which is a LOT) how disgusting our house is and it is so embarrassing. I tell them any adult that lives in a house with kids, will understand that our house just looks lived in (and hopefully well loved). Ha! I would be lying if I said their attitudes didn't hurt a bit. They do end up pitching in and helping clean up – but I am fairly sure it is with a "See, Mom…this is how it is done, ugh (insert eye roll here!)….if you were a decent mother this is how it would always look!" My point is, I have relaxed, but now I need to figure out how to not let their attitudes tear me back down so I am still stressed about it – just in a different way.