Moms -
Do you have a goal?
I’m not talking about curing your child’s autism or potty training your 10 year old – a goal just for YOURSELF? Something that feeds your soul?
Do you want to:
- Knit?
- Swim?
- Shower without interruption or consequence?
- Learn a language?
- Dance?
- Have a conversation with adults?
- Have your nails done?
- Sing really really loud?
- Do something that brings you joy?
Autism moms are amazingly strong women. They go to the mat for their kids day in and day out. They dream the impossible – and realize those dreams. But in doing so, they often forget to nourish themselves.
The ‘experts’ always tell us to take care of ourselves. Put your oxygen mask on first before assisting others. Take time for yourself. P-L-E-A-S-E. Who has time when dealing with autism? Who can afford a massage when there are endless supplements to buy?
But guess what? The well eventually runs dry. Burn out. I’ve been there and it is ugly, sad and terrifying. It can be so hard to admit, but we are better parents when we have a break. The road to recovery will not abruptly end if we take 10 minutes for ourselves. Really, it won’t.
So, do you have a goal? Something that sparks that fire inside you?
Please share your thoughts. And please, take a few minutes to do something today that feeds your soul.
Kia Ora. Be Well. Be Healthy.
My inspiration for this entry was successfully crossing a set of monkey bars today. Seems silly, but it was a huge accomplishment for me. Ever since I was a child, I had poor upper body strength. The hanging bar during the Presidential Fitness Test each year was humiliating – yes I still have nightmares decades later!!!!
So this Spring I made a goal to get stronger. I did 5 push-ups every day. At first all I could manage was to do them against a wall, then on my knees. This week I managed to do 5 for real or as close to real as I have come. It felt good.
Then at the playground today, I watched a young girl sail across the monkey bars and I thought, “What the heck?” It wasn’t pretty, but I made it across. First time ever. I’ve been walking on a cloud ever since.
Here’s to dreaming big….or small!