Being a mom definitely has it’s ups and downs. And this week in particular, I’ve relied on a few Mommy Time Outs to help me stay present and sane.
I’m going to be totally honest with you, I love being a mom but this week got to me. Emotionally, physically and mentally. Each day felt long and challenging in different ways.
But as I sit here reflecting on a week that consisted of a lot of work, sleepless nights, challenging decisions, and hard-core parenting I think: It’s OK. I made it. Things are never as bad as they seems.
“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but thought about it” – Eckhart Tolle.
This quote ran through my head all week. Every time I felt overwhelmed with a screaming toddler, I thought about this quote. But thinking about it wasn’t enough, so I took several Mommy Time Outs.
Basically, every time the tensions were high and I could feel my mood start to shift, I took a time out. Even the smallest change in the unpleasant moment helped me find calm and peace.
I feel like this is the first time I’ve really been aware of just dropping everything and taking a time out. When I’m tired and struggling to soothe my agitated toddler, it’s easy for me to feel overwhelmed but becoming aware of that moment and making a conscious change, makes a big difference.
For me a Mommy Time Out can be anything that shifts my mindset from negative to positive and helps me find a little peace in the moment. Helps me take a little breather. Here are the things that brightened my week.
1. Helping a Friend
earlier this week, I was feeling overwhelmed with tantrums, potty training accidents, housework and million other things I had to do. And I could feel my mind and mood feeling more and more overwhelmed I just stopped and decided to help someone. So I packed up the girls and went for a drive to help a friend.
Stepping out of my own negative space to help someone else changed my whole day and put my toddler to sleep. Win win.
2. Go Outside
During one of the 100 screaming fits my toddler threw this week, I decided to take her outside. We just sat in the driveway as she screamed. But that action alone seemed to change both our moods. The cool breeze, leaves and nature was enough to change the negative energy of the moment.
Similarly, we took lots of short walks this week which also worked wonders for all of us.
3. Read
I’ve been slowly making my way through [amazon text=Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth&asin=0452289963] over the past few weeks. So far I really love the book and it’s message about awareness. I find every time I read or listen to the book my mood is completely changed and I feel so much more calm and at peace.
So this week, I used that when things got too much. I’d read a page or 2. Or I would hop in the car for a quick errand and listen to this book on CD. For me this mental time out nourished and replenished my patience for the rest of the day.
4. Smile
During an errand run this week as my mind was racing, I decided to turn off the depressing news, play some soft classical music and just smile. I probably looked like a crazy person with a huge smile on my face in the car, but it really worked.My mood was lifted and I was able to get out of my own head for a while.
5. Let it out
Sounds weird but sometimes crying feels so darn good. Like you have a thousand emotions trapped inside and crying is the only way to let them out. One night this week, the second the girls were in bed, I just sat on the couch and cried. A short but really hard cry and it really felt amazing. The hubs simply hugged me and that was all I needed in that moment. Then all seemed good.
Every day is a new beginning 🧡
Originally posted 2018-10-14 09:42:41.
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