The Balanced Life, Huntsville Alabama

As we conclude this years Mother’s Day, I have found myself feeling many different ways regarding this special time of the year.

My heart feels for those who have lost their mothers and are grieving that relationship, but also I am remembering those who are struggling to become moms due to infertility issues.   I embrace the mothers who have lost their children far too soon and acknowledge the pain associated with this holiday. While still remembering these special women, I want to discuss what I feel is important to remember if you are currently in the role of a mother and are parenting children.

If you are fortunate enough to be a mom, you are quite aware that children take a lot out of you. A role that can bring us much joy also can bring great pain and exhaustion with a lack of focus on ourselves. While it’s healthy to make our children a top priority and give them our ultimate love and attention, it’s vital that we still take care of ourselves. After all, a healthy and happy mom is the best mom.

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Before you can truly love someone else, you must first love yourself.” I believe this quote has unique meaning when it comes to parenting our children. Neglecting yourself and your needs can make you feel stressed, exhausted, and overall unhealthy, none of which are healthy emotions to embody as a mother.   They can lower your capacity to interact positively with your children and may even affect the ability to meet your children’s mental, emotional, and physical needs. So, how do we stay healthy and happy when we are balancing a million things while still being the best possible mom we can? Here are some suggestions.

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. We sometimes as mothers feel this unexplainable guilt if we have to ask our significant other or family member for help in caring for our children. But, in reality, that’s what a support system is meant to do.   There is no weakness is asking help even if it’s just to watch them for a few hours or planning an kid-free event to enjoy a break.
2. Get out and move. Fresh air, sunlight, and nature are said to be important mood enhancers for women, not to mention a perfect environment for exercise. Aim to get 30 minutes of exercise a day through walking, hiking, or finding a unique hobby that you enjoy.
3. Practice healthy sleep and eating habits. It is extremely easy to slip into bad sleep or eating habits when children are involved—whatever is quick and easy is preferred. Research has proven that unhealthy eating and lack of sleep can lower mood and self-esteem and leave you physically drained. Try to start good bedtime habits early on to maximize sleep time with the same waking and sleeping times each night. With eating, sometimes all you need to do is start small by substituting something healthy into a meal or snack.
4. Focus on the positives. It’s easy to criticize yourself for things you have done or didn’t do when it comes to parenting. While good self-awareness can be helpful, I would encourage using positive affirmation within yourself as well as your children. Talk to yourself the way you would want your children to talk to themselves—after all, they learn by example and are watching your every move.

 If you need any help becoming happier and healthier as a parent, contact Lindsey Hill at lindsey@thebalancedlifellc.com.