2019-03-28
mom and daughter

We are sorry to share with you that we are exhausted, cantankerous and are sick of picking up dirty clothes. Our patience is frayed like old silk and our dispositions are not sunny no matter what the Mother's Day commercials propagate. Please, this makes many of us want to gag on the saccharine of commercialism on this day. Even Anna Jarvis never intended for the day to be misused. She was the one that lobbied for moms to have a national holiday to themselves in 1914. But she also lobbied to stop the holiday when it became a vehicle used for profit. " I wanted it to be a day of sentiment, not profit," she protested. See, us disgruntled moms are not against the holiday, we just want to experience a little more self-love during the year. So, if you are sick of the ooey-gooey commercials and the heaps of laundry, here are 7 ways to reward yourself on Mother's Day.

Take time to pamper yourself.

You might not have all day to spend at a spa, but if you have 30 minutes you can take a bath and keep a glass of wine handy. Baths can be traced to Roman times as people believed that the water had healing powers. They were correct in their assumptions. There are many benefits of taking a long sudsy bath. Taking a bath can help with insomnia, anxiety, help ease sore joints. You can add essential oils to help you relax like lavender. Lemon or orange essential oil can be used boost your mood, something you might want to consider.

Find a place to be still.

As a mom, this may be hard to do. However, there is power in being still, even if it is for 10 minutes. The myth of our modern world is to remain busy and as a parent, you need to remain on your game. Just sit still somewhere and pray to clear your head and to hush the internal babble. Cast down anything that goes against the knowledge of God like fear or worry.

Have a moment to vent.

You know what? You need to vent and get real. Keeping all your feelings bottled has consequences. "People who are constantly putting others down, criticizing everything and making cynical comments haven't learned how to constructively express their anger,” the American Psychological Association explained. One way to deal with stress in a more tangible way is to rant about it on paper. Go with it and free write about how your spouse can't pick up his boxers or your kids repeatedly not putting their toys away. Writing is powerful as it releases anger in a healthy way without you hurting people in the household.

Renew your passions.

Do a hobby that you love, even if it is on small scale. If you love horses, painting, writing or sailing see if you can do a lesson every quarter or once a month. For example, we get excited about new designer shoes, but after awhile we lose that enthusiasm, but experiences last longer and can reconnect us to our passions. Dr. Thomas Gilovich has conducted a study researching what really makes us happy. “You can really like your material stuff. You can even think that part of your identity is connected to those things, but nonetheless, they remain separate from you. In contrast, your experiences really are part of you. We are the sum total of our experiences,” he shared with theatlantic.com.

Practice mindfulness.

There is a tool to help you cope with those bad days and it all starts in the mind. Mindfulness meditation practice pays attention to the breath. When your attention starts to wander or you become frustrated, you return to your breath to slow down. "Bringing awareness to your breath for even a few minutes, several times throughout your day, can reduce tension and put your mind and body at ease," wrote author Danielle Hark. Practicing mindfulness boosts the immune system, the memory, intuition, helps with fear and makes you a nicer person! This is not just limited to breathing Yoga and tai chi can also help you achieve these benefits. It is about attaining focus and clarity to help bring the body and mind under control. What mother wouldn't want to experience this! Another great thing is that doing mindful exercises doesn't cost a penny.

Shake up your routine.

We all get in a rut and as a parent having a routine is not a bad thing. Maybe you need a change of scenery. Change your route to work or change where you get your coffee in morning. Maybe reach out to other parents and try to meet up with them over a lunch to expand your social network. You can start a woman's group at church or get involved in a charity where the family can be part of it. Yes, the mundane may be fine but is can be boring. Make changes that will encourage you to seek out different experiences. Doing this might also help you feel more reenergized.

Encourage yourself by thinking positive.

Ephesians 3:20-21 said: "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever." You are so busy keeping everyone else uplifted that your own tank may be running low. Find a Scripture, an affirmation or listen to a sermon that inspires you. Why? Because you can't give others what you don't have.

By doing the little things for yourself on Mother's Day and every day, you can rise above the pressures and remain steadfast. Dismiss the commercialism of the holiday, like the founder did and embrace the predilection of being a woman who happens to be a mom.

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