The Importance of Me Time for Parents – I’m guilty. Yes, I lost site of my own identity after having my kids. They consumed my life – partly due to the typical demands that come with raising 2 children, but also largely due to the fact that they had certain special needs (food allergies galore for one, Asperger’s for the other).
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I got caught up in the daily necessities of raising my kids. I didn’t even realize it at the time, but slowly and surely I was no longer doing the things I loved, I was barely seeing my friends, and date nights with my husband were non-existent. What happened to my “me” time? I didn’t realize the importance of me time for parents. I’m sad to say a lot of my friendships dwindled significantly during those crazy early parenting years.
It took me until my early 40’s to come full circle and not only realize what was happening, but also do something about it.
The Importance of Me Time for Parents
To tackle the issue, I really put a lot of thought into it. I decided to start by writing up a bucket list. This helped me realize what was important to me and what I wanted to accomplish before my time is up.
Next, I sorted through my bucket list and picked a few options that were most feasibly possible to achieve on an early front, as well as those that meant the most to me. Not that it matters to you, but if you’re curious, it started with spending more time with my husband (he bought a motorcycle and we go riding every warm night), and more time with my best friend. I also focused on allowing myself some alone time to practice yoga, and hit my old college text books to refresh my memory on my Italian language courses. I’d love to be fluent some day.
I learned an important lesson from this experience. I may have kids who need me, but I have needs/wants as well. Having children does require sacrifices, but as a mom, I don’t want to lose site of the people and things I enjoy outside of my life with my children.
I find that when I can enjoy some of the things on my bucket list, I’m happier and more capable of dealing with the demands of parenting. I also find that I have more patience when dealing with my kids. It truly makes parenting easier. It’s more balanced and I don’t feel as though my kids are zapping me like I’m “The Giving Tree“.
I have been given the biggest gift – my wonderful children. I don’t mind the sacrifices and I would never change a thing. But, it’s also important for me to keep my identity and my other “loves” in life a big focus and a part of me. If I give everything up for them, I don’t think I’d be the best mom I could be. The “me” time will always be secondary, but I’ve realized that the “me” time, my time, is nearly as important to my loved ones as it is to myself. I have to protect it. What does The Importance of Me Time for Parents mean to you?
