If you want to take care of your children, moms need to take care of themselves first. Moms need some time alone to rejuvenate, not think about parenting, and to avoid a parenting burnout.
Many moms feel a sense of relief, of calm, or even of gratitude when their children aren’t around. But there is another emotion that some of us feel as well and that is a sense of guilt. Some moms feel guilty when they feel such a sense of relief when their children start school in the fall, visit the grand-parents, or go off to camp. But as parents, we shouldn’t feel guilty. Being a parent is hard work and we all need a break every now and then.
Being a parent today is harder than ever before. Society is changing so fast and we constantly have to be worried about societal dangers waiting to face our children. Some children are also involved in more extracurricular activities than when we were growing up. Add children’s activities to parents’ busy work schedules and you undoubtedly have stressed out parents. What really matters is how we treat our children when they are with us!
Successful parenting
Some parents fail to realize that successful parenting is about the quality time we spend with our children and not the quantity of time. Instead of moms feeling guilty for being relieved as soon as their children walk out the door, they should enjoy their time alone and use it as rejuvenation time. By getting that much needed break from parental responsibility, we are able to become refreshed and that will have a positive effect on quality time we spend with our children we then return home to us.
Why moms should take time for themselves
Moms also need to realize that their children will benefit from this time apart as well. Our children don’t need to be with us to learn and explore their world around them. They can learn and laugh and have fun when they are away from us just as well as when they are with us. Time apart from parents often increases children’s senses of independence and greatly improves their behaviour upon returning home, because they too need a break from us just as we need our break from them.
So go ahead and enjoy time to yourself when the opportunity arises and don’t feel guilty about it. Your children don’t feel guilty about being away from you. Take this much needed time to indulge in your favourite hobby, to go on a mom’s night out, or enjoy time with your spouse. Upon returning home, most likely your children will notice that you seem different; more relaxed and happier. And that will strengthen the bond between you and your children so much so that you will relish time alone in the future without the tremendous feeling of guilt.
