Why Motherhood And Self-Care MUST Go Hand-In-Hand
Motherhood includes many sacrifices but self should never be one of them. From the moment you receive the exciting news of your pregnancy, the new life inside you takes precedence. From that moment on you start changing. Starting with your eating habits, physical changes to your body, never before seen stretchmarks, aches and pains, morning sickness – the list is endless. The glow of pregnancy and the anticipation of a new life make this an exciting time. Then comes labor and delivery. Whew!! Talk about a life changing experience. Who else but a mom could experience hour upon hour of pain and angst, and emerge happy for the experience? When that life you helped create and bring into the world is placed in your arms for the first time, every instinct you have becomes maternal. That tiny person takes immediate control of your body, your schedule, and even your budget! Your life starts to revolve around the needs of your baby. That’s as it should be at first because your baby is completely reliant on you in the beginning but, there are exceptions to that rule we aren't often made aware of. Here’s the part most moms forget, though, that if you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t truly take care of your baby – or anyone else for that matter. And that you were important and worthy of love for your self from the day that you were born giving birth was an ultimate compliment! So, why is self-care so important for mothers? If you’ve ever flown anywhere, you’ve heard the flight crew instruct you to secure your own mask before helping the person beside you. Some flight attendants do this in straightforward language, some do it in the form of a poem, and some set it to music. No matter how it’s presented, it’s message is the same: You simply cannot take care of the person beside you or the people around you if you do not take care of yourself first. That never stops being true. From your baby’s first days to toddlerhood to the school years and onward, they never stop looking to your first. That makes it vital for you to be in the best shape you can be in in order to help them. Even though there’s nothing wrong with occasionally spoiling yourself, it’s important that moms also understand the difference between spoiling and caring for yourself. Putting yourself first from a place of true love makes it easier to do the hundreds of thankless jobs moms do all the time. The reason self-care so easily gets pushed to the back burner among mothers is because taking care of yourself is something that only you can do for you. What makes self-care your responsibility? It has to be intentional before it becomes instinctive; it has to be planned before it becomes second nature, it has to be a priority for you before it can be a priority for anyone else. You have to have a self-care plan and supportive team just like at work or in business. Your true beauty can tend to give way when you become a mom. The well of love, the weight of responsibility, the planning and anticipation of the future – mom’s and baby’s – these things combine to give you a glow so famous, it’s actually infamous. But That glow, that inherent beauty, doesn’t exist when you’re overworked and exhausted. Here are five ways you can indulge in the self-care that is so important for moms:
Here’s our bonus tip: Just like in your business setting, dress for success in your mom career. It can be easy to throw on jeans or sweats and a t-shirt or tank top. One of the biggest parts of taking good care of yourself is feeling good about yourself and one of the best ways to make that happen is to dress in clothes that are comfortable and fit well. A hint of makeup or the perfect moisturizer and a spritz of fragrance can make all the difference in the world for your self-image. The most important thing for you to remember is that self-care is not selfish, it’s self-necessary. -Arica (The Beauty Doula)
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