Therapy in Chester, NJ
With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, many moms may be expecting little tokens of appreciation from their children – flowers, a handmade card, maybe a piece of jewelry. While these gifts are thoughtful and very much cherished, let’s be honest…what you really want for Mother’s Day this year is just a day to relax! Being a mom, your work never ends (check out this video for a mother’s job description).
Last week, I was reminded of how exhausting, and stressful it can be to be a mom, always taking care of everyone and everything. I had to travel to the West Coast to help my older son recover from surgery, while my younger son was sick with a bad cold/cough and home from school on the East Coast. I felt so bad I couldn't be physically there for him too. Meanwhile, I also had to manage my role as a therapist, dealing with phone sessions, emails, and rescheduling appointments for clients for when I returned home. Don't get me wrong, I love taking care of my kids and I love my job as a therapist but sometimes it can get overwhelming and I feel pulled in so many different directions.
While you might not have been in that exact same situation that I was in last week, it is likely that all moms have felt themselves being pulled and stretched. Everyday you work hard to make things easier for your partner, your children, your boss, or your clients, and everyday you juggle the many responsibilities that come with being a mom…it is no surprise that it feels so great to be appreciated on Mother’s Day.
Why do we exert all of our energy every day of the year, and only get a true thank you once a year? Well, because we love our families and would do anything for them! But that doesn’t mean that we only get one day of rest, one day to be recognized for all that we do! Maybe the flowers and breakfast in bed will only come once or twice a year, but the opportunity for self-care should be part of your daily or weekly routine.
It is important that you take care of yourself the way you take care of others, not only on Mother’s Day, but everyday. You know that your children need at least 8 hours of sleep each night, healthy meals, time for fun, and time to unwind each day – you remind them to take care of their physical and mental health. Advocate for yourself the way you advocate for your children, and make sure that you get that much needed break from your daily stresses.
If you make a small effort each day for self-care, you will be less likely to be overwhelmed by tension and to feel that you are being stretched far too thin by the time Mother’s Day rolls around. Schedule yoga, reading, a quick cat nap, or a 30-minute walk into your daily routine so that it is set in stone and it will be harder for you to push it off until tomorrow so that you have more time to bend over backwards for your family or job.
Take the time today to recognize how important you are to your family and friends. What would they do without you? Now, take note of all of the reasons that you should value yourself! You deserve at least 30 minutes each day to do whatever you want to treat yourself for all of the hard work you put in for everyone else. If right now you don’t see that everyday should feel a little like Mother’s Day, and that everyday you should be appreciated (and should appreciate yourself), then it may be time for you to build your self-esteem and self-concept.
If you think you need to build your self-esteem or learn to engage in regular self-care, I am here to help!
Happy Mother’s Day to all of you wonderful moms out there who do the hardest job in the world, everyday!
Contact
Risa Simpson-Davis, LCSW
732-742-0329