I’ll Do Anything For My Children – Except for This…
“I’ll do anything for my kids” is something I hear from mothers almost every day.
“My children are my top priority, for them I am willing to give up everything. My children are more important than anything.”
Our children are indeed the most important thing we have, and society considers family values to be of utmost importance. Mothers are willing to do a lot of concessions for their children and even wear them with pride.
I listen to mothers who tell me how they renounced their important careers. Then suddenly, some longing for something that could have been creeps into their voices.
Others share with me how even when folding laundry, first and foremost they fold the children’s clothes and only then do they get to their own. Some of them forgo recreation, sports, meeting their friends, anything and everything, to be there for their kids. In fact, they say they’ll do anything for their children, but to invest in themselves is the lowest priority. And it’s very unfortunate because this is a big mistake that many mothers tend to do.
Mothers give and give and put their children’s desires and their needs first.
What happens then is the most absurd situation. This mother, the one who is so caring for everyone, finds herself gradually feeling empty and worn out. She does everything for her kids and she is not aware of the fact that when she is depleted of all energy, she is not useful to herself, and even less so to her children.
Have you ever been on an air plane? Who hasn’t heard the classic stewardess line: “In the case of air pressure falling in the plane, oxygen masks will fall from above. Passengers who have children should first fasten the oxygen mask on themselves, and then fasten the mask on their child…”
Have you ever wondered why are we instructed to first make sure the parent has oxygen, and only then take care of their child?
The answer seems a lot clearer now. Mothers, if you will not take care for yourself first and foremost, you will not have the oxygen, nor the energy, nor the motivation, nor the power to take care of the ones you love most.
A mother who doesn’t take care of her self and doesn’t make it a priority to charge her mind and doesn’t put herself on top becomes depleted. She then cannot set a good example for her children. Those who follow my blog entries already know that children learn from us by constantly and unconsciously observing us, the parents. We want them to flourish, to thrive, to succeed and to put themselves first. But, sadly, this is not always the case. And when it isn’t the case – it’s most important to observe what it is that the mother does for her self.
Dear mothers, if you don’t put yourself first, don’t take care of yourself, make sure you “recharge”, do things that only have to do with your own wellbeing and happiness, how will your children ever learn how to do that? How will the children know to care for themselves if they won’t see a mother that cares for herself?
The most important part of your family is you, The mother, you hold the family in the palm of your hand and you, along side with the father of the children, are the greatest influence on your children. Thus, the thing you should worry about most is yourself.
Yes, that’s right, yourself. Or, to be more accurate, care more for yourself. Take a break sometimes, have a coffee with a good friend, do some exercise, flatter yourself and let yourself recharge so you can continue fulfilling your many tasks and be the best example you can be for your children. Remember, when you’re fine – everything at home and in the family will be fine as well.
So if you are a mother who is willing to do everything for her children, do this one thing for them: invest and take care of yourself.
It’s an Amazing gift you can give yourself and your children.
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