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Be a Great Mum: Taking care of you

by Judy Reith

Mothers are brilliant at taking care of everyone’s needs except their own. It’s perceived to be quicker, easier and more rewarding to stay in the hamster wheel of meeting the needs of children, a partner, the house, the extended family, the neighbours, colleagues and even the pet goldfish than putting your own needs into the mix. Living like this eventually means you simply don’t have enough resources left to service everybody else. Motherhood today is complex and demanding and the pressures to bring up perfect children in a perfect home are great. Taking care of your own needs requires time, organisation and the imagination to believe it’s worth doing. When you do find time for you, even five minutes with a magazine and a cup of tea it is worth it. I want you to really love these moments and not feel guilty for one second. My challenge to mums is to find a piece of everyday, every week and every month to treat yourself like you would a best friend. Choose something to do that is relaxing and preferably uninterrupted. Get back in touch with the part of your identity that is not connected to motherhood. That will give you the energy to carry on running a family – the most important job you do.
Judy Reith. www.parentingpeople.co.uk
 



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