The New Year brings in new opportunities to start things over. Most people start thinking about starting an exercise routine, eating healthier, and maybe even reading their Bible more. There’s nothing wrong with any of these, of course, but what if this new year we, as moms, also made it a priority to start making time for us.
Did you just shake your head and giggle a little? I think you did. You might be thinking, “How on earth can I stop and make time for me, don’t you know how many things there are to do right now?”
You are absolutely right, there are a ton of things clamoring for your attention right now; kids, husbands, getting your house organized and cleaned up from the holidays and getting to work on those new routines. Here’s the catch though, now is actually the perfect time to schedule in a little time just for you.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the to-do list and even easier to push aside making time for you when things are busy, but this is exactly when this is even more important. You’ve heard that expression before, “when mama ain’t happy, ain’t no one happy” right? In a lot of ways that is so true, although with a little planning we can change that.
My kids aren’t really little ones any longer, they are older teenagers and cough, cough, already in college, so let me take a minute to share with you some insights I’ve learned along the way. By making time for you (mom) even when life is busy, you are actually giving yourself the margin you need to breathe when those times of stress and anxiety come knocking at your door…and you know they will come a knocking. Now you know why it’s important, let’s get real practical for a minute.
Here are a few examples of ways you can make time for mom.
- Get up thirty minutes earlier each morning so you can have quiet time (to read your Bible, pray, and reflect on the upcoming day) to start your day.
- Pull out your calendar and block off a few hours once a week to grab coffee, lunch, shopping, mani, pedi, whatever makes the most sense to you to fill your tank back up.
- Get creative on how to make that happen, babysitting swap with a friend (you watch her kids while she gets some time out for just her, then she watches your kids for your outing).
- Once a month schedule a date day with your hubby, part of making time for mom is also making time for your marriage.
- Get involved in a Bible study at your church, preferably one that has childcare available for your kids, then make it a priority to go, get connected with other women and enjoy the sweet time just for you.
Whatever you do, just decide ahead of time that it is completely ok for you to make time for you.
Of course you should also go into it with open hands, because let’s face it, life is complicated and even our best laid plans don’t always work out the way we would want them to. By having open hands we are releasing the stress and pressure of things being “just right” and we allow glimpses of grace to come along.
What about you?
– Do you make time for you?
– If so, then what do you do to make that time happen?
– If not, then what’s keeping you from getting started?
Making time for mom isn’t a bad thing, it isn’t something that “other moms” get to do, it is an opportunity to celebrate the blessing of being called mom with a heart full of gratitude. The peace that comes from making time for mom even when life is busy will bless and probably even surprise you. Go ahead, try it today.
Seeking JOY on the Journey,
Melissa Mashburn
Melissa is a woman who is passionately pursuing God every day by taking her everyday, ordinary life and placing it as her offering to Him. She is a writer, speaker, mom, Pastor’s wife, and trained communicator through CLASSeminars. With her extensive background in Womens and Kids Ministry Melissa has a passion to lead women to “keep it real” in their lives, families, and ministries. Melissa is married to Matt, her best friend, for 20 years and the proud mama to two teenage boys, Nick & Bailey. When she’s not running around wearing the many hats that God has given her, she likes to sit in her favorite comfy chair in their quiet room and relax with a great book and a giant cup of coffee. You can find her online; Twitter, Facebook, or on her blog, Melissa Mashburn: Real Women, Real Life, Real Faith.
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