If you know one thing about me then you probably know one of my very favorite ways to “take care of Maggie” is to paint my nails. It’s seriously my favorite! Lately I’ve been grabbing a gray-ish color, and this is my go-to polish. We have been busy this month with a variety of family things and the other night I was like, it’s time to spend a little time on me!
Over the weekend I read a post about re-naming “self-care” to “mothering myself“, and I was like YES! THAT IS TOTALLY IT! (This is also a great post on self-care.) I am a big fan of mothering myself, but just like it’s easy to get over-scheduled in life (which is a super unhelpful approach when you have two toddlers), I had forgotten to reserve a little time for myself.
One of my dear friends shared she and her husband drink tea together in the evenings while they catch up on life, and I was immediately like, Maggie, you better tuck away this bit of mothering advice. Genius! (I feel like I’m talking to myself a lot in this post?) This is also the same friend who has recently given me oodles of writing advice. I’ve already typed out her tips, and I can’t wait to share them here :)
We are busy preparing for a visit home to Michigan with our families, which includes finding all of our cold-weather clothing and thoroughly enjoying my secret stash of chocolate as I pack our bags :) And apparently, talking to myself! What’s going on with you this week? Any “mothering myself” advice to share?
PS. need a new podcast episode to listen to? Tsh (The Art of Simple) and I chatted recently, click here to listen to episode 18: Learn by Doing.
I totally agree….we have to fill ourselves up so we can pour it into our children. If we are empty and stressed and stretched, we have nothing to give.
My kids are older (oldest just got his drivers license this week), so they aren’t under foot constantly. Besides school, they have youth, sport practices etc. So that is my “free time”! But my husband and I do sneak away for dinner during the week and leave the kids at home. We usually run errands and go out to dinner or we simply go to the local watering hole in the village. He’s a busy man with the business so we really have to be intentional. The kids love staying home together. They make their own meal for the evening and they work on their homework, then hang out and watch a slap stick movie.
Enjoy your trip to Michigan…..I haven’t even pulled out my parka yet….it’s going to be a warm Christmas here.
Listening to the episode now while I knit for a market I’m vending at tomorrow. Kids are doing playdoh…. ;) loving it so far!