Becoming a parent is an adventure that brings both joy and challenges. The rush of love and connection with your baby can be overwhelming, but amidst the endless cycle of feeding, changing, and rocking the baby, it’s easy to forget about yourself as a parent. In this blog post, we’re going to discuss the importance of self-care, specifically for parents. We’ll share tips on how to find time for yourself and provide encouragement to prioritize self-care.
Your kids are thriving and enjoying everything, but you most likely collapse onto the couch at the end of each day wondering where the time went and trying to figure out who is going to do the dishes before you go to bed.
Prioritizing Self-Care: Why It Matters
The days will always be filled with things to get done for the kiddos, but it’s important to remember to take care of yourself as a parent. Self-care is critical! Your mental and physical well-being are important to not only yourself but to your kids as well. Self-care can look different for everyone. It’s not just about getting a manicure or massage (although, if that’s what your mind and body need in that moment, then get that massage!).
It may include therapy sessions, or journaling, getting out of the house for an evening alone or with friends, picking up a new (or old) hobby, or even getting in a nap each day. Take time for yourself to invest in the things that you enjoy doing and make you feel whole as a person. Whether it’s finding alone time to read a book or setting aside time to get in physical activity each day, make that a priority so you can recharge.
Taking Care of Yourself: It’s Not Selfish
As a new mom, I remember everyone telling me to take some time to myself and then they would tell me to go take a shower. While I appreciated the sentiment, I couldn’t help but be frustrated to think that something as basic as a shower became “self-care” just because I became a parent. Basic human needs and hygiene are important but should not be thought of as self-care.
I also remember feeling bad or feeling like I was being selfish by needing to take time away for myself. I felt like people would judge me for wanting time out of the house. Now that my kids are older, I don’t worry about what other people think, and I know I’m a better mom and partner when I can focus on myself for a few short hours.
Creating Mom Time: Practical Tips for Making It Happen
Whatever you want or need to do take care of yourself is up to you – the most important thing is to actually do it. Marking the calendar each week for self-care time can hold you accountable to ensure that you’re not going to skip whatever it is you had planned.
Remember, parents, we can’t give 100% to our kids and families if we aren’t at 100% ourselves. Self-care as a parent is so important. If you’d like to chat with someone about ways you can still prioritize yourself as a parent, we’re happy to help. Email our Family Support Navigators at navigation@familyfutures.net. You’ve got this, parents
“Self-care isn’t self-indulgence, it’s self-preservation.” -Audre Lorde
