Yesterday, I gave myself a day.
I would call it a mom’s day except that has a whole other meaning. Have you ever noticed that Mother’s Day can be just one more day of making sure your family is happy?
Anyway, this was a whole other kind of day. I felt it as soon as I woke up. I was extra tired and slightly headachy and I knew that if I let it, it would become a day full of guilt over how little I accomplished. So, I announced to anyone within hearing distance that “Today is going to be a day of rest and relaxation with no guilt attached!” My husband responded, “Good!” But, I’m not sure he knew the lengths of idleness I had planned.
Here were my “rules”:
- NO SHOWER! The first order of business was NO SHOWER. That meant a day spent in my nightgown with no makeup and very messy hair. Even though I have my shower, makeup and hair routine down to a science, that was still too much energy to expend.
- NO FOOD! This was the next biggie: no cooking. We had leftovers and sandwich makings in the fridge, so no one was going to starve. That did mean that I couldn’t be picky about the choices people made, but that was a small price to pay for some rest.
- NO SERVICE! Besides making my own meals and letting everyone else do their own hunting and gathering, I also refused to come up with boredom-buster ideas or plan playdates. It’s amazing what your family can come up with when mom takes herself out of the picture.
- NO ENTERTAINING! I also shut all the front blinds in our house so neighbors wouldn’t feel free to drop in (and find me in my PJs). Social visits could happen some other day.
- RELAXATION! Everyone has a different idea of relaxation. For me, it meant a long nap, a good book and a Britbox movie.
Did I feel lazy? Yes, I did, but I kept telling myself that it was only a day. That really helped me combat any feelings of guilt.
I will say that those of you with babies and toddlers will need help to do this and you may need to get creative on that front (trade with friends, hire a sitter, etc.). I hope you can do this though, for you need it more than anyone!
So, grab those jammies, push away the mom guilt and give yourself a day (or a half-day, or an hour).
You’ll be amazed at how a day of lazy idleness can recharge your engine.
Read more of Ann’s contributions to allmomdoes here.
