hubey opener: Here's Her 4-1-1 on Avoiding the Motherhood Burnout ? Her View ...

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Here's Her 4-1-1 on Avoiding the Motherhood Burnout ? Her View ...

Posted by Heather on 31 Jul 2012 / 0 Comment

Written by Heather Riggleman

After a particularly stressful day, I laid my kids down for a nap. Not that they needed to rest, but I needed a reprieve, a chance to regain my sanity. As I sat there relishing the quiet; the smell of bubblegum fresh caught my attention and perked my brain. As I followed the scent, it led me to my daughter?s room. There I discovered several things:

1. Myself?questioning why I chose to have kids in the first place.?

2. My daughter has a very creative side, not sure if I was ready to embrace it or scream.

3. Blue sparkle toothpaste had been used as a decoration technique on everything. The carpet, her toys, and mainly, her favorite castle. (P.s. her room now has wood flooring like the rest of the house).?

On days like today, I find myself on the verge of a Mommy Burn Out and the idea of being in an office is more enticing than being at home. And I say enticing because I LOVE being at home with my kids except for moments like this. ?I question how this role as mommy has all but consumed every part of me; my body, my time, my home, my paycheck, my identity, and my heart.

Is it worth being setting aside my dreams and ambitious career ideas to parent? YES?with that said, we need to be careful of the motherhood burnout. The burnout happens when we don?t carve ?me time.? Many women can identify with what I?m saying and still others cannot. Take for example an elderly mentor whom I confided in. I mentioned I needed ?me? time. Time to sort out my writing, my talents, to shave my legs if needed. She waited for me to finish my soapbox speech before she said, ?Heather, you?ll have plenty of time for you later. Right now, your entire role in life depends on being a mother.?? Taken back, I didn?t say anything. Her statement didn?t sit well with me.?

As I picked apart her conversation, I understood her view of motherhood and its nobility. It is the greatest job on this earth, I get that. But?there?s always a but, but did I give up ?me? time when I decided to become a mother? I don?t think so.

I don?t care if you were made to mother, we all need me time. Especially when you walk in on bubble gum tooth paste 3-D sculpture, or have a demanding three-year-old. If we take care of ourselves first, we are better moms and women.

Do you feel this way? Don?t give up, here?s the 411 on avoiding burn out in motherhood. First and foremost, remember why you choose to be home with your kids.

Regain Your Perspective

I want to be there for my kids, to create childhood memories they will one day be fond of. No one else can do that like I can.
I want to be there every step of the way to instill my family values, morals, and ensure their hearts reflect our faith. ?Only I can do this.
I want to be there for the tough decisions they have to make, to pick them up when they stumble, and to cheer them on when they succeed. No one else can value my children the way I do. No one else can empower them the way I do.
No one else values their hearts like I do. It takes prodding, molding, and shaping of the everyday life to shape their hearts to be ready for life.
Being a mom requires time, commitment, and it creates a life time?investment. If I invest in my kids, they will invest in themselves and?their?families in the future
Tori hiding in the clean laundry after the tooth paste incident.

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