Make Yourself Your Newest Hobby

Being a mom is one of the most rewarding jobs that exist. The time that I spent with my babies were some of the most magical years of my life. I watched my kids grow and become actual people I wanted to be around. Today they are 15 and 18 and are beginning to flourish on their own. They don’t need me the way they used to and I find myself with more and more alone time.

At first this was a tough thing to accept. Who am I without my kids? I’ve been their caretaker, their chef, their nurse, their tutor and their friend. While I am still all of those things, I am also much more. Unfortunately somewhere along those baby years I had forgotten that I was more than a mother and I have decided to use this time to make myself a priority. I have begun to actually invest time on myself by making the gym a priority. My first thought in the morning is no longer, “what am I cooking for dinner?” but “What time can I get to the gym today before the crowds come?” If that means my husband and son will have cereal on occasion, that’s ok. They are both capable of putting together some ingredients to make a meal! Instead of planning a trip out pumpkin picking for the kids this fall, I am planning on making time for my girlfriends and heading out to a winery.

Don’t wait until your kids are grown to remember how important you are.

3 Easy Ways you can take care of yourself

Exercise- That can be as little as going out for a walk or signing up at a gym with childcare and taking a class.
Get a mani pedi- Sometimes you just need a little alone time. Bring a book you’ve been dying to catch up on. I used to love to take my daughter with me for some bonding, but sometimes it’s ok to leave the kids at home and focus on yourself.
Meet a friend for coffee- It is really easy to feel isolated when you are home with little kids. Many times I would think I was the only one with problems. Getting together with a girlfriend will help remind you that you’re not alone. Even if it’s only for a quick 20-30 minutes, put down your facade and confide in your friend. Chances are she’s going through the same thing as you!