21/02/2020
As parents we often feel our duty and care has to go completely on our children. If we suffer with physical or mental illnesses our limited abilities sometimes mean we spend even less time on ourselves and focus solely on our family.
This is what I was doing for years. Every second of energy I had went into my son. It was lovely and we has some great times but for me I wasn't fulfilling myself as an individual. My poor physical health and pain meant I then suffered badly with my mental health and I wasn't taking care of myself as much as I should have. Obviously with parenthood you do have to sacrifice your own private time to a certain degree. But there has to be a balance. Without self care we aren't being our best selves, we aren't fulfilled and happy meaning our children and partners don't get to experience us at our best.
It didn't sit quite right when I began but I knew I needed to change things and that for my son having a happy mother was important. I started doing a weekly art class that helped give me time out, a chance to socialise and enjoy a relaxing hobby. It was just about me doing something for myself. Both my hubby and son have noticed the improvement in my mood since and it lifts our whole household up.
The phrase 'you can't pour from an empty cup' is an important metaphor to consider when as a parent you try to consider taking more time for yourself and your own self care. We deserve to take the time for us, to do something that helps us relax, or makes us smile or feel fulfilled. It honestly will make a positive difference to your family. So make sure that you do what you can to balance out the care you are giving, ensuring that you keep some back for yourself. 💜
Self-care is for parents too but slotting it into the chaos and unpredictability of our lives can feel impossible, especially when we have children.
