Mom 24/7

        First and foremost, I am a mom 24/7 as well as a wife of 15 years.  You don't get a break from being a Mom.  Your kids are always and always will be your kids. I am so very grateful to be a mom and all 3 of my kids are a blessing.  Trust me, I understand that we DO need a break sometimes.  When you have a teenager and a 4-year old in the house, they both come with their own set of challenges.  Now, I'm not saying that we don't ever need a break.  Mentally, if we never took some time for ourselves, we would all loose our minds! This may look a lot different for everyone. Some moms may take a bath at night, once everyone is in bed, to regroup from the day or even have a glass of wine once the house is quiet.  Others may get their nails done once in awhile, treat themselves to a massage, or maybe a pedicure.  Listen moms, we all need self-care sometimes.  I am guilty at times, or forgetting about myself, because I am so busy taking care of everyone else, between the appointments, homework, cleaning, cooking, or meltdowns. It can seem impossible at times.  We have to take some form of time for ourselves, even if this just means you take 10 minutes, lock the bathroom door, and breathe in silence.  I'm sure there are many of you out there, who suffer from anxiety and even depression.  Mental health is so important, and I have learned that if we ignore ourselves, we can't be there like we should for our kids and our spouses/partners.  There are so many ways, to focus on ourselves, even for just 5-10 minutes a day.  Deep breathing is a excellent tool to use.  Find a good book that you enjoy, and make time in the evenings, or whenever is most convenient, to sit down and read for even 10-15 minutes, if that is all the time you have.  We must invest in ourselves, or we will loose ourselves. I know life gets busy, (trust me I feel this to my core), and we get so caught up with the outside world, that we ignore ourselves.  Make a point to set aside a couple of times a week (at least), for yourself.  Make it count and make it something you enjoy, whatever that may be! And, for those of you who are stay-at-home moms, don't EVER let anyone tell you that is not a job.  It is more of a job than people acknowledge.  It's hard work, it's stressful, it chaos, it's also amazing, and very rewarding, to be able to stay home with your children and watch them grow.  Whether you work full time in an office. work from home, or you are a stay-at-home mom, these are all jobs! Make sure to give yourself credit, and know that everything you do matters and is important.  You may not have someone to tell you that or remind you that you matter, but I am here to tell you, that you DO! Keep your head up through all of these life challenges that we face, and know that you are important and you make a difference.  As Dory from Finding Nemo would say, "Just Keep Swimming!"