Time to Breathe

It seems like we have been running, running, running like crazy for months now.  We were either working on the house, going to activities with the little girlies, or following Emma’s basketball team all over Eastern Oregon.  Saturday was Emma’s final game of the season, and I took pictures at Riverside High School’s Sweetheart Dance that evening.  Other than those two things, we didn’t have to do anything this weekend, and it was wonderful!

I read this article on Sane Moms the other day.  It is all about taking time for yourself, even just a few minutes, every day.  Taking the time to nourish the woman-mind, body, and soul that existed for a long time before it became the mommy mind, body, and soul.

They say this:

Your kids can always take your breath away. It doesn’t matter whether they’re inside you squishing your lungs, stunning you with their beauty, scaring you with a fall, yelling hurtful things at you, saying they love you, announcing that they’re moving out, or calling to say they’re having a baby. They’ll always have that power to take your breath away, and it only goes to prove the strength and poignancy of the relationship.

When you’re ready to deliver your first child, lots of people will have opinions about how you’d best handle it. Ways to breathe, how to position yourself, where to be, who to have along for support, and what to take (or not) for the pain. The only advice you really should take to heart? Don’t forget to breathe! Slowly, quickly, pantingly, whatever feels good to you … and consciously if you can. Aside from keeping you alive, it can make all the difference in the world when it comes to how you feel! It helps put you in touch with your body, your thoughts, and your heart.

This weekend, I have thoroughly enjoyed hanging out at home with my girlies.  I have also enjoyed the few stolen minutes here and there when I escaped to the bedroom to read a chapter in my book, check e-mails, and just relax.

So how well do you do at breathing, really breathing, once you’re a mom? Nobody’s reminding you, and yet you need it more than ever! A few moments here and there to get in touch with yourself again. Listening to your heart, quieting your mind, and renewing yourself as a woman.

From now on, I am going to steal away even just a few minutes daily to just BREATHE, relax, rejuvenate, and renew myself.  I have no doubt that if I manage to remember even only every other day I will be a better wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend.

So, my suggestion to you is to make sure you take a little time each day to . . .

breathe