Moms, Today is YOUR Day to…

Well, it has been A WEEK. You know the ones. The weeks where you question if you managed to do anything productive, took the quickest showers of your life {if you got one at all}, skidded into the preschool line just seconds before the end of drop off time, never got dinner on the table in time, made meals that only your husband would eat, forgot to pack at least one item for the kids every day, and jumped into bed for mindless TV right after the kids were down, neglecting said husband and friends.

Oh, just me?

At any rate, as I was speeding through this week stressing out myself and my household, it got me thinking. Moms put so much pressure on themselves to be absolutely perfect in all arenas, all the time. I don’t know about you, but sometimes it.is.just.too.much. Our quest to achieve “perfect mommyhood” {whatever that is anyway} combined with societal expectations doesn’t allow much wiggle room for mess ups. So today, for all the moms who just flat out need a break, give yourself permission to ::

1. Sleep in an extra 30 minutes. Get your rest – you need it and you DESERVE it. Bonus – press snooze a few times.

2. Wake up a little early so you can do a morning devotion, yoga, work out, or scroll through your Facebook and Instagram accounts. Rejoice in the silence and breathe in the steam of your coffee cup.

3. Order in for dinner. You’ve been at it all day, give yourself a break. Grab a pizza or order in Chinese food so you can enjoy some family time. {I’d do sushi, but what-ev.}

ryan pizza

4. Cook dinner for your family. It recharges you to stir the pot and perhaps have a glass of wine in your hand.

5. Let your husband bathe and dress the kids. He secretly enjoys it as it brings out the child in him to see the children happily splashing about.

bathing

6. Give your kids a bubble bath and soak in the sweet smell of their baby shampoo and lotion. Preferably with freshly brushed teeth.

7. Escape for a moment. No “Mommy Guilt” allowed. Go get a pedicure, take a walk in the park, or just drive around listening to something that doesn’t have the refrain of “Let it go.” {Great song, but I.am.so.over.it. Who’s with me?}

8. Put aside the bills, ignore the ding of incoming emails, and leave the dishes in the sink. Sit on the floor and play with your kids. Let them mix the play-doh colors and leave your OCD tendencies at the door. {Oh, just me again?} Enjoy the sweet moments of them jumping on you and “styling” your hair. Just be with them without pressure of the world around you. Some things can wait.

ryan and quinn playing

9. Have a Mommy’s Night Out. Nothing is more refreshing than being with a girlfriend, enjoying a meal without having to get up to clean spills, pour more milk, or hear exclamations of “I don’t like this!” More bonus points – DON’T TALK ABOUT KIDS. Talk about life. Your dreams. The latest episode of Real Housewives from Anywhere.

mommy night out

10. Breathe deeply. Just as quick as the tough moments come, so do the sweet ones. Relish in the great moments of the day. I’m not a big fan of “carpe diem.” A full day seems like too much pressure. Seize the little moments, make them count, and go to bed with a smile on your face recalling the moment when your child bear-hugged you with all their might and said “I love you, Momma.” {And forget that moment came after you let them out of time out for the 5th time that morning.}

11. I was going to stop at #10 – but I happen to think 11 is VERY important. Have a date night with the hubs. Reconnect. See each other as more than just “Mommy” or “Daddy.” Remember why you fell in love and started this crazy journey in the first place. Parenthood is what y’all daydreamed of all those years ago, lying under the oak trees at the LSU lakes. While you were naive about all the sacrifices and hard work, he helped bring those hopes to an amazing reality – and created a life even better than what you envisioned at 22 years old.

meagan and matt date night

And someone, please remind me to re-read this list the next time there is A WEEK. {Wink!} I’ll be pinning this to Pinterest as a friendly reminder for all of the moms out there too…

Moms

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Meagan Clanahan
Meagan is a Dallas native who has lived in the Katy area for over a decade. She kicked a soccer ball all the way to Louisiana to attend college at her family’s alma mater of LSU, where she promptly fell in love with a Texas Aggie in Baton Rouge for an internship. After swimming back to Texas following Hurricane Katrina, Matt and Meagan fell in love with the Houston area and now couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. Following several years of infertility, their miracle twins Ryan and Quinn were born in June of 2010. She believes there is nothing better than a chilled glass of Pinot Grigio, a large Sonic Diet Coke, sushi take-out, Girls Nights Out, and a mindless book to curl up with. Besides playing chauffeur and catering to the whims of her children, Meagan also is the Co-Owner of Houston Moms Blog. You can keep up with Meagan at The Clanahan Fam and on Instagram @meaganclanahan!

2 COMMENTS

    • Thanks, Rebecca, and thanks for reading! About the cool part – my kids would probably disagree with you 😉 but definitely appreciate hearing it, ha!

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