by Kristen Paulsen

Created on: February 06, 2010

As the saying goes, "If Mama Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy."  Mothers spend their countless hours serving their families.  Besides child rearing, they often are the ones making dinner, cleaning the house, doing the household shopping, carpooling the kids to activities and the list goes on and on.  However, in the daily grind of motherhood, we have forgotten that mother needs to be OK to do all these things.  Here are several tips on taking time for yourself.

#1  Get involved in a group exercise class or some other type of class that challenges you and teaches you a new skill.  Many places provide these types of classes and they are traditionally evening classes or weekend classes for a few hours once a week.  For example: scrap booking club, book club, cooking class, cake decorating, aerobics class, self defense class, etc. This gives you something to look forward to, but also allows you time to remember who you are and be intellectually stimulated by other adults.

#2  Try to get a few hours week away from the home to re-energize yourself.  Meet up with a friend for coffee.  Go to a bookstore and sit and read.  Go have your nails done.  Get a haircut.  Do something that you usually do not do for yourself.  It doesn't need to cost a lot of money.  If you say you can't afford it, you can't afford not to do something for yourself.  Time does not cost money.  Take a walk, ride a bike, write poetry, do whatever you enjoy away from the house for a few hours.

#3 Create rules within the home that convey "your time."  When the door is closed knock first.  Do not come in while Mommy is in the shower.  Quiet time is quiet time, mommy is having it too.  Whatever you create, make sure everyone in the house is aware and will respect it. 

#4  Perhaps work with your spouse to have him take over weekend cooking and dishes to relieve you at the end of the week.  He can enlist the help of the children and everyone is benefited.  Dad will get quality time in the kitchen teaching the children (it may be to appreciate your cooking more) and Mom gets despite break at the end of the week.

#5  Learn how to work things that relax and de-stress yourself into the routine with your children.  For example, going on a walk and letting a child ride their bike.  Going to the park and both swinging.  Making cards with your child...you will both be getting something done, but at the same time relaxing

#6  Once a quarter plan an overnight away with either your spouse or by yourself or with girlfriends.  It will help you rejuvenate and appreciate what is at home.  We all need time away to appreciate more what we have. 

Regardless of how you decide to take and make time for yourself, remember, you can't be the best you without a break.  When you're not happy, nobody is.  The mother is central to a home and so is her temperament.  Now, stop reading and start planning your next break.

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