As I watch my not-even-two-year-old son climb up the playset ladder, I try to stand far enough away to let him think that he is all on his own. Yet, I stand close enough to be able to get to him if and when he falls. My philosophy is that I can not expect him to learn how to climb a ladder if I never let him try.
He has to practice climbing that ladder, if there is any hope of him conquering that ladder, this summer. (Which by the way, the benefit for me, is being able to sit down on my patio and watch the kids play, instead of spending my afternoons chasing my baby up and down that playset!)
Luckily, we, moms, know how to climb ladders. And we do it while accomplishing a few other tasks…naturally.
But do we know how to take appropriate time for ourselves? You know…just guilt free ‘me’ time?
How many times have you thought, “Gosh, I really need to get better at scheduling some ‘me’ time,” to leave it at that? The days, weeks, months even years go by and we are still singing the same tune?
If you can relate…think of it this way;
How can you expect to conquer this ‘me’ time if you have not practiced it? Taking time for you, on soul-fulfilling activities, is not a talent that some women have and others don’t. It is a skill that a Mom must work to develop….particularly because true ‘me’ time should be mostly guilt free!
This week, think about one thing that can help you practice ‘me’ time. Can you get up 10 minutes earlier to just sit, pray, make coffee; or do push ups, before everyone else gets up? Can you take that walk during lunch instead of eating at your desk? Could you reconnect with an old friend, because you know he/she is good for your soul? Could you have Daddy or Grandpa/Grandma read the kids a bedtime story so you could take 10 minutes for yourself, then?
Me time needs practice. Practice will lead to peace.
(And at this stage in my life…peace trumps perfection, any day!)
