Now that schools are closed many moms – fewer dads – see their “tail” grow longer by the day. This is especially true for full time moms with younger children who follow them around from the time they wake up in the morning until they go to bed in the evening.
From one room to another, you turn right, they turn right too; you run to the kitchen to check there’s enough water in the cooking pot, they run after you so much so that if you make a step back you’re afraid you’ll accidentally step on them. You play with them, you plan their activities, you do your chores – as much as possible. And, in many traditional families, when papa comes home you just continue to run.
You take care of him, serve his late lunch, make his afternoon coffee … especially true for the traditional Greek family even though you may hold two Masters and a PhD diploma! And when the conversation gets to the point where you tell your lovely partner how tired you are, you get a response like “I can’t believe I’m hearing this. I’ve been working all day while you are home resting”. Here comes the crucial question for you, mom: Do you find time to rest during such a busy day with kids, especially young ones, at home? If your answer is “yes,” congratulations, you’re a step ahead! If however your answer is “no” you need to change your perspective and start seeing things a bit differently.
You need to make some changes in your daily routine and create, better yet set aside, time for yourself. You can start with 15 minutes per day, every day. Mark it in your calendar as a “meeting with me” time like you would with any other activity or chore. You may choose what pleases and relaxes you the most. Like talking to your best friend, reading your book, gazing from your balcony, relaxing on your couch …
Once you allocate these 15 minutes to yourself successfully, you may slowly increase the time to suit your needs. Don’t tell me you have no time at all. Be creative, take time from something else and offer it to yourself. It’s a gift you deserve! Because you also need to take a break and recharge your batteries. Only then will you be able to cope well with the daily challenges. And, as you very well know, they are plenty! Enjoy your daily breaks 🙂
