Yesterday, I posted some borrowed material and I'm so glad so many of y'all enjoyed it and related to it.
But it got me thinking........
Why do we as moms get so distracted by things that keep us from doing the things that help us relieve a bunch of the stress in our lives?
My goal lately has been to make the time to exercise and I've been failing miserably at it because of all the other responsibilities I have on my plate. My typical week goes something like this.....
5:15- alarm goes off and I hit snooze until about 6:15
6:15-7:30- get ready for work
8:00-3:00- work
Mon and Wed 4:00-6:00 cross country practice that takes a while to get to so I don't go home during
Then there's dinner, homework, housework, laundry, getting things together for the next day.
Tues and Thurs 7:00-9:00 soccer practice, I do go home during those practices and the afternoon is spent with dinner, homework, housework, laundry, getting things done for the next day.
Then there have been high school football games on Fridays, cross country meets and soccer games on Saturdays (sometimes both in the same days). We've been doing a lot of traveling for these sports to all day Saturday has been shot since school has started.
Sundays have been spent going to Mass, going grocery shopping for the week, doing some major cleaning of the house and trying to find anytime to spend doing something fun as a family. Some day of rest, huh?
Sadly, in there has been very little time for exercising.... which is my main stress reliever. From all the other things going on, I'm just too exhausted to drag myself out of bed at 5:15 to hit the streets for a run.
Now, Steve on the other hand, has a job and certainly does make the money in the family. I work for the extras like school tuition and vacations.... the fun stuff. But, Steve comes home from work, goes to the gym 2 to 3 times a week and works out, a couple of other nights he comes home and goes for a run. He makes the time, he doesn't have the responsibility of cooking, cleaning, laundry.
I know, if I let housework go it won't get done. I've complained, I've asked, I've yelled that I don't get any help from the other two in my house.
Elizabeth has constantly kept a messy room, but has recently has been trying to keep a clean room, but the rest of the house, not so much. I know she's busy, I know she has school (which is a full time job) and I know she leaves stuff around and I stack it on the steps, then it doesn't get taken up with she goes and it just gets a little crazy.
Steve couldn't care less if the house is clean. He has no problem stepping over shoes or towels and certainly doesn't care if the bed gets made on a daily basis. We are complete opposites when it comes to things like this. And because of this, I can't blame my girl is she doesn't clean up after herself.
Now, I'm not complaining about either of them and their lack of tidiness. I remember being a teenager and having a messy room. I didn't make my bed, food just appeared on the table at dinner time thanks to my mom, she did the majority of the cleaning in the house. I think a lot of households are this way. But my mom, also, didn't complain about the little messes. She would pick them up, put them on the steps and we (the kids) would just throw them in our messy rooms knowing where the important items were.
But, I think I've digressed here.......
Why can't I just let it go? Why can't I be the one to not care about the messes around the house and just pick up and go for a run while the laundry is piled up. I don't expect a spotless house all the time, I'm not delusional. Why can't I just leave them and put myself first for an hour a day?
While I'm typing this at work, I know I have a mess on my kitchen table (created by me) that needs to be cleaned up. I know I have laundry that needs to be done or my daughter won't have a clean school uniform for tomorrow. I know I have bathrooms to clean because, well, that's what I do on Tuesday afternoons. And by the time I get all of these responsibilities done and the daily house work, I'm flat out exhausted. And to be honest, by that time, I'm ready for bed.
I need to change. Hubs has always been the kind of guy that is not a neat-nick and I can't expect him to change over night. That's just not realistic. I know I'm too tired and exhausted from the day to take the me time at night like he can. If I run or workout at 8 or 9 at night, I won't sleep. I'm too keyed up. I've tried running at night and I just feel awful when I do that. My dinner sits in my stomach and just makes me feel awful. Anyone else like this?
And no one but me will get myself out of bed and do it in the morning. It's me. It's my responsibility. I'm the only one that can do it.
I read this post by Sarah over at Clover Lane and feel the same way she does. If I have too many plates spinning I get way out of whack. I can't do it and feel so stressed when it all comes crashing down and I guess that's how I am now. The end of fall sports is in sight and I know I will feel better soon. When life calms down and I can focus more on myself for a while until the next plate needs to start spinning.
I guess I needed to vent..... and you got to read all about it. Sorry!
Lately
15 hours ago
Posts
5 Comments:
Do you know why the instructions given on the airplane say to put your oxygen mask on before your child's? Because if momma can't breathe she's no help to anyone. These instructions apply to life as well. Take time for you. That stuff will be there when you get back from running. Nothing says all household tasks must be completed once started - do enough to get by for the rest of the week. When you have more time, tackle the big stuff. Just remember to breathe. Daily.
First off - don't feel bad. Not being a mother, but getting older and hopefully "wiser" in life I am constantly awed by moms. ESPECIALLY the ones who work. I feel like there is a special jewel for your crown in heaven, called "the momma jewel". Only moms will get it and everyone will be in awe of your awesomeness.
Secondly - have you tried asking your husband if he could do a trade off? You do cooking 3 nights a week, he does it 3 nights a week and you workout/run on the nights that you don't have to cook.
I agree with you about working out after dinner. No matter how little I might eat, I always feel sick.
Stay strong, momma!
Same here on all accounts. I sincerely want to let it go, but it IRKs me, and frankly, some things MUST be done (i.e. laundry, sanitation of toilets, etc.).
I love to exercise, but I am wayyyy too exhausted and cannot find any time to do it until the boys are asleep - like 8:30-9pm and then all I want to do is crash.
Last Saturday, around lunch my legs were killing me when I realized it was 1pm and I had been on my feet up and down stairs cleaning, cooking, working since 7am. My husband sat in a chair the whole time. I am trying not to be resentful.
Same issues here. I make the beds every day, and do not go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink. But I'm the one that has to do all of that or it won't get done. If I don't do little bits every day to keep on top of it, everything ends up a disaster (which is why my spare bedroom looks the way it does!).
I'm trying to teach Brandon now to pitch in and help. He has to put away his toys every night before bed, so hopefully that will continue. So far he does it willingly, but I've been making him help me do it since he was very little, now it's his responsibility or no story at bedtime if I have to do it.
Can you do your exercising while L is at cross-country practice and you're having to wait on her? I've just started fitting in some exercise. Several of my neighbors meet at 8:30pm and walk/run some days, or do a home boot camp the other days. It's been nice, and when you have others to meet it makes me less likely to skip a workout night.
We all do this in some way! Don't feel bad! The hardest part is that first step out of the door. If I am doing okay with one aspect, I find something else suffers. It is so difficult to find the balance, isn't it?
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