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Mommy is in Time Out

Motherhood is a tough job and generally, we are the last person to think of that needs care. Right up until we run ourselves into the red. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia at the beginning of this year and this mommy has had to pull the breaks and start looking at how she must care for herself too! So from one mother to another. I am putting you in Time Out. Here is a list of things I do that count as self care for this mommy. And many of these can be done with the kids running around, breaking the house down. 



1. Hair Mask. Whether you buy it over the counter or make your own, massaging that stuff into your scalp is bliss. Even more so if someone else does it! I use coconut oil. My hair and scalp is dry. So dry. When I miss my weekly treatment, I feel like my hair is turning into a brittle wisp that may just blow away on a windy day, like tumble weed. I melt a little in the microwave, rub it through from root to tip, put a movie on and start with the little ones hair. This turns out to be some great Sunday afternoon bonding for us. And for a few moments, things don't feel so manic.

2. Face Mask. I won't ever use the chocolate one again. That is just torture which led me buying, and then eating a bar of chocolate. I prefer the non-food ones. Like mud.

3. Foot Spa. If you don't have one of those fancy ones, a broad bucket will do. With hot, steaming, melt away hot water. I have heard using Epsom salts is great. I have the Epsom salts but what with the dogs that drink my foot water I am too afraid to use it.


                                    
4. Hobby it up. I love to read. And when I'm feeling sore I like to grab my favourite story. My favourites look a bit bedraggled. I left this one on the couch and a certain Jack Russell saw fit to taste it. Fortunately he didn't eat any of the important words. Now I am just reading Making M by Terry Pratchett.



5. Try physiotherapy. This comes with a warning label. I walk in sore. I leave cripple. The benefits is that I recover much faster. My physio says I should see her once a week. I go once a month. 


6. Low impact exercises. Stretches. Yoga. YouTube is awesome. I don't need to leave the house and my daughter can play around me and even joins in. The dogs like to join in too. Usually under your feet. Or licking your face.

 

7. Hot water bottle the aches away. I hate using painkillers. One: their side effects can knock you on your ass for the remainder of the day, and two: they can become highly addictive. For fibro I am on a mild painkiller. I thought it wasn't working till I forgot to take it one day.

8. Go for a walk. I get my little ones bike out and we go around the block. The trees are old in our street so it gives this lovely ethereal effect. Of course, I am armed with pepper spray and the ability to lift myself and my daughter up any of those trees if need be. You may laugh but I have been chased by a dog and thank goodness for big, old trees. 

9. Warm drinks (or cold). Have that favourite cup (or glass) of drink you should probably not have because it contains 10kg of sugar. I am of course talking about hot chocolate (of course this is where you insert your favourite here and that can include something alcoholic.) There are less sugar options in the world if you must avoid the sugar! (We must all avoid the sugar but let's not talk about that right now.)

10. Sleep. Yes, let us all have a moment to laugh at this one. When the kids have fallen asleep and mom has a moment to herself to be herself. At the end of the day though, everyone else is completely knackered out and then the mother sits by her computer and types one of these lists. So basically I am telling you to do as I say and not as I do. Usually mom is the last one awake, and there is a blissfully quiet moment before the chaos of the next day begins. 

                                    

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