Self Care

The posts labeled " Untamed Truth" are designed to depict the raw side of motherhood. These posts will show the highs and lows, the successes and the losses and the good times and bad. I feel like mother's are expected to feel perfect and to be perfect and that just isn't the case. We are people, like everyone else. And part of what makes our parenting unique and special are our individual strengths and weaknesses, and the good days and the bad and how we handle them. In the 16 short months that I have been a mother I've learned first hand that parenting is a roller coaster ride and so is motherhood.  There are days that go smoothly and are so much fun and I feel confident and good about myself and how I'm doing as a mother.  There are also days when I don't feel like I have the patience or energy that I should and I'm disappointed with myself as a woman and as a mother.

These posts are like a visual diary for me that reflect all these different emotions and experiences during motherhood. I want other mother's to know that it's okay to have a bad day or to not feel your best.  These moments are beautiful and real to and they help us learn and grow. What is important in the end is that you are giving it your best effort and that your little one is loved.

On the reverse side I feel like on the good days, when you feel like you are Mom 2.0 and you are a multitasking queen and you look good and you are winning at the day and we talk about it it's seen as cocky or distasteful. Being a mother is hard. We deserve to get to look good, or treat our selves, or talk about our accomplishments. These times help us get through the tough times and it's validation for the hard work we put in. It's validation for the sleepless nights, the days when you need to get lots done and can't because your kid is struggling or the days when you get frustrated with you kiddo and instead of talking them thru it you snap at them. It's important for us mother's to take care of ourselves and to feel good sometimes because that will be reflected to our family and it will be reflected in our parenting.

Since this is the first one of these posts I'm going to start out on a really important and positive not, self care. Yesterday was a great day for me. I felt like a super mom. I felt like I balanced life well and I finished all my errands and spent quality time doing fun activities with my son. Some of the errands that I ran were a doctor's appointments and x-ray imaging. My shoulder has been killing me for a couple weeks and between my job as an Animal Care Officer at the city where I get yanked around by dogs and carrying my kiddo around at home it was not getting any better. I finally went in yesterday to have it looked at.

Exercising self care is not something that I am always good at. There have been days when I don't make the time to brush my teeth or do my hair or drink enough water or eat enough. I'm bad about taking care of myself sometimes and I put my needs on the bottom. I get wrapped up in the day and my son and just don't think about it. Our kids watch us take care of ourselves so when you have the time it's important to do you. It's important to make the time to drink water, eat and brush your teeth daily. It's also important to go to the doctor when you need. And of course it's important to treat yourself. Go get yourself an outfit or have girls night or pamper yourself. I know when I take the time to do these things I feel better and am a better mom.

My auntie has been the one that has really taught me this and has pushed me to exercise better self care. She stayed with me for a couple of weeks after Calvin was born. She has come up and visited several times and always harps on me to take time for myself. I am getting better and better and I see the difference it makes. My last slip up in self care was about my medical issues. I was visiting my auntie over Thanksgiving and telling her that my shoulder has been killing me for a couple of weeks and that it's hurt to pee for a couple of weeks too. She stressed that I need to take care of myself so I can take care of my family. When I got back in town I went to an urgent Care and was diagnosed with a yeast infection and a UTI. If I had left these issues untreated it could have lead to more serious issues. REMEMBER...take care of yourself! Shortly after I made an appointment for my shoulder and am on anti-inflammatory meds, which have helped greatly. Since seeing both doctors I feel better and am therefore able to provide better care to my family.

That evening I treated myself to a work out and to a nice relaxing bath and I felt amazing and rejuvenated afterwards. Everyday I spend time taking care of myself, whether it's taking a bath, or putting on makeup up or working out. I encourage all the mom's out there to do the same and to witness the transformation in how you feel!