Livin My Best Mom Life

What does it mean to practice self-care? Self-care is a term used to help assist and take action to improve your own health. Self- care looks different for everyone. What one person may enjoy doing and brings them peace, may be different than what brings peace and tranquility to another. It is important to practice self-care so you can have positive energy and be the best you.

Are you wondering how can you take care of yourself while caring for your children and life’s everyday responsibilities and struggles? We know how busy moms can be and how easily we forget to give them credit or the time they deserve. Moms so often selflessly put others first. It’s that constant struggle between getting the laundry caught up, planning activities, cleaning the house, grocery shopping, preparing for the next day, etc.

I haven’t been the best at practicing my own self care advice, but it is something I have been working on lately because I know when the second baby arrives, I will need some “me time.” With a toddler running around, it can be hard to find time during the day. This weekend I plan to get a haircut, get my nails and toes done, something I don’t think I have done in over a year! Why? I just always put it off because other things seem to matter more.

I needed to change my mindset.

One of my biggest suggestions is to make the time! Head over to my printables to grab a monthly calendar. Use it to add things you would like to do. I have found writing it down and putting it into a calendar has given me more opportunity to follow through with my activity.

This weekend is Mother’s Day and what better way to celebrate than to encourage self-care for the woman you love and who are in your life! Mom’s need to be rejuvenated and cared for just as they nurture and care for others around them. I was able to collaborate with some amazing woman to help give some ideas and tips to help practice self-care.

Ideas, Tips, and Simple Acts to Practice Self-Care

To practice Self-Care is to practice Self-Love; that means, you need to learn how to step back when things become overwhelming and acknowledge that it’s okay not to be okay. I think mind setting is very essential to help us refocus and identify our priorities.

Mitchelle from www.mamabuzzblog.com

Teach Them Young

Start teaching your children from a young age that self-care is important for everyone! When I want to take a shower alone, go for a run, or get ready, I explain to my young kiddos how important it is for Mom to have some time to take care of herself too. It is really important to me that I raise my kids to continue with self-care as they grow into adulthood too, and that starts with modeling. It can be hard to find the time with kids during the toddler years, but including them in the conversation is a great first step!

Katelyn from https://www.freshlybrewedmama.com

The Importance of 5 Minutes

With hectic mom schedules, we find that taking five minutes to reset is a game changer. It can be coffee & silence in the morning, or a night time quick peel off facial after the kids go down. Making sure we take a break, before we break.

Melissa from https://www.heavenlyimperfections.com

Treat Yourself to Mimosa’s

Have the mimosa! Take time for yourself and celebrate all you have accomplished! My request for Mother’s Day this year is mimosas! I plan to sip mimosas and skip the laundry and dishes for the day! I plan to give myself the permission to just relax and enjoy watching my babies! Give yourself permission to let it all go! You deserve it!

Amanda from https://aplace4mamas.com/

Curl up With a Good Book

For me self care is definitely reading a book with a warm cup of tea. It relaxes me and let’s me destress. I can do it while my daughter plays on the floor next to me, but it’s even better to do while she’s napping and I can step outside and read on the front porch.

Zoe from Awitchymamaskitchen.blogspot.com

My self care often begins after my 2 year old daughter goes to bed between 8:00-8:30 PM. I like her having an earlier bed time so that I can incorporate a little me time before I go to bed myself. I love to make myself some chamomile tea and pull out the latest book that I am reading while I snuggle underneath my blankets. This is the epitome of self care to me and I find it so relaxing to have this time to unwind and get some rest for the following day.

Jasmyn from https://justjass.com/

Enhance Your Shower Experience

My favorite way to practice self care is by making my shower time a spa like experience. As the mom of a toddler, I don’t always have time for baths or other me time activities, but showers are a necessity, so why not make the most of them? I use nice bath products, shower steamers, play relaxing music, and either light a nice candle or use my oil diffuser. Even if I only get 5 or 10 minutes, it is still time I got to myself.

Erin from www.themindfullyscientificmama.com

I have two little kids and love to intentionally enjoy my daily shower. I see it as a little break and relaxing me-time when my husband watches the kids in the meantime. It may seem like a small thing, but makes a big difference for me as a full-time mommy these days.

Tabea from https://mymommyheart.com

Be Artistic

Sometimes, the monotony of daily life grinds you down. In order to keep my sanity, I try to do something creative every day. Lately, I’ve been taking macro photos and posting them on Instagram. I also enjoy drawing pictures on my son’s snack bags. My biggest stress relievers are jigsaw puzzles. I can sit and work on one for hours (if I had that much free time)! Any of these creative outlets allow me time in my own head to process my thoughts. It’s during these times that I tune everything out and focus on me.

Misty from https://lifebetweenthedishes.com

Go Outside & Get a Breath of Fresh Air or Exercise

I love to go for a run! To get out in nature and enjoy the flowers and birds singing helps me clear my head! If I go by myself, listening to a podcast or music is relaxing to me, but it is also fun to take my boys and show them how to find joy in the nature around us.

Elizabeth from www.discoveryplaywithlittles.com

Work out frequently. Teach your child to respect your workout time, or better, work out with you. I set the fixed time during the day to do my morning exercise (30 minutes a day) and my son sees me working out everyday as well. He used to ask for my attention all the time, but I patiently ask him to wait until my workout is done. Now either he plays alone while I do my exercise or joins me.

Mai from www.mommyinstinct.com

I’m one of 4 children so we always struggled for present ideas. For many years now I take my mum out for ‘memory days’. This can be afternoon tea out, a trip to a city with lunch or even a day shopping. She loves these days and memories last longer than flowers and chocolates.

Lynne from www.theswaneffectmum.com

Hang upside down for 2 minutes. Whether that’s in a swing or just letting your head drop off the couch while your legs are up. This gives your body some great vestibular input which in essence empties your sensory cup ( the one that spilling over from noise and being over touched)

Holly from Otholly.com

When I am short for time or cannot escape from kids, I will do three little things that make me feel like I took time away from little ones for self-care: 1. A 5 minute guided meditation 2. Turn on my favorite song and have a dance party 3. Say positive affirmations for mirror talk.

Kate from www.kateable.com

No matter what you decide to do or if you practice self-care this weekend, try to make it into a consistent routine! If you would like to share your routine, feel free to share in the comments! Us moms are always looking for suggestions.

As a new mom, I did not know what to expect going back to work right after maternity leave. I took FMLA leave and let me tell you, those 12 weeks with your newborn baby go by oh so quickly. The first three months while being back at work after maternity leave, I faced so many emotions. Emotions I do not think many moms are prepared to deal with or know how to cope with. It was probably one of the hardest and toughest decisions as a family we ever had to make when we decided I needed to go back to work.

I quickly learned how fast a baby changes your priorities and that you need to be realistic in finding your balance with what works for you.

After working a full-time job and having the opportunity to be a SAHM for a short period of time, you are all so inspiring.

Working a full time job and/ or being a SAHM are both equally hard. I am still learning every day on how to find my balance.

Fear and Stress of Returning to Work

As much as I am ready for things to go back to life as it was before COVID, it has truly been a blessing to be at home with my daughter the past several months. I have been able to witness so many of her milestones and for that I am forever grateful. As I mentioned before, I am a teacher. My district has now been teaching hybrid classes a little over a month. When I first found out we would have to go back and return to our building, my heart sank. The thought of learning a new routine with a toddler is daunting.

I was not prepared to go back and leave my baby girl, I do not think I ever will be, but I am sharing a few things I am doing this time around to better ease my way back into work as well as transition my daughter back to daycare.

Tips to help going back to to work after maternity leave:

1. Pack your lunch and your child’s lunch the night before, along with snacks for the entire week. This will help save you a few extra minutes in the morning. I like to plan a lunch menu for the entire week. This also helps with knowing what to get at the grocery store and not putting random items in our cart.

Below is an example of our lunch menu. I usually try to include some sort of fruit, a vegetable, a protein, and yogurt. Sometimes her meal is as simple as using leftovers from the previous dinner.

Looking to download and make your own weekly menu? Click here to download!

2. Have snacks for the car ride and a portable container to put the snacks in. The munchkin snack catcher works wonders in the car. It allows my daughter to only grab a few pieces at a time.

Items that are safe and easy to chew- puffs, pirate booty, cheerios, snack bars

snacks for making going back to maternity leave more manageable

3. Have an entertainment center/ easy activities for the car ride. We all know toddlers and babies can get bored easily. Make sure you have some sort of activity to entertain them. Some of our favorite things to have in the car:

Books, teething rings, sing and song light up mirror, and crayola’s doodle board

4. Accepting it is okay to be emotional (especially once you drop them off, pick them up, or have to put them right to bed after dinner)

5. Bring a lovey to help make them feel more comfortable and like a piece of home is with them. (My daughter did not have an established lovey until she was about 14 months old.) Her lovey is a small beanie boo. If you’re wondering what that is, they are small beanie babies and can always be found at Michaels or Party City! She is always trying to add one to her collection in the checkout line.

If your baby has a lovey, I would buy at least one extra! It is always a safe choice to have another laying around just in case something happens to the original. Does your toddler have a lovey? If so, what is it?

6. Remember to breathe and know you are not the only one going through this! It’s always a great idea to join a support group of others moms! To get some ideas of how to join a support group, visit my postpartum healing tips.

7. Lay out your babies clothes the night before! I pick out our daughters outfits for the whole week. This has helped save me so much time in the mornings. Right after we eat breakfast it is a quick and easy change. I grab the outfit for the day and we are out the door.

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How to Practice Self-Care This Mother’s Day