My Mom Said It & Now I Hear Van Morrison Saying It …
“They’ll be days like this …. “, said ever so wisely by Van Morrison (off the 1995 album “Days Like This). Where did the “me” of 2000 go? When did I evolve in to the person that I am now? I still dig the same music (with a few extra bands added in for more flavor), I still desire another tattoo and another nose ring (the first was way back, but I had to have that close up). I had envisioned myself as a really hip Stay At Home Mom (SAHM), but I have become so entirely consumed by the day to day humdrum and routine that I can’t seem to find the time to indulge myself in the little things that I know will bring me pleasure &/or enjoyment. We don’t take [enough] time for ourselves - & I am speaking as one of the over-run, under-indulged SAHM’s of America. I know that not all parents feel this way, and it is because of that - that I am wondering “why not?!”
Routine is important for my kids. We have breakfast time, nap time, free-play time, art time ….. all of these things take place at a certain time - give or take. On days that we have a play-date, the play-dates are in the morning because that is the least disruptive to routine and we can usually make it home for lunch and nap (the latter of which is most important). However I still need my hair cut, desire to wear clothes that don’t accentuate the spit up on the shoulder, and to discuss something other than the color of human feces and other bodily fluids (although those are popular topics of conversation among the SAHM group).
Letting yourself go is one thing. Not caring that you have let yourself go is another. Let’s take this moment to reverse the affects of the all too consuming, under-indulging, glowing affects of parenthood & make a promise to ourselves to do one thing this week for ourselves, that we have put off, put down, or just want to do.