MC15 Refueling your Mom Tank

Hi! I’m Cassie from Two In Diapers, and I’m a mommy to three sweet babies, ages 4, 3, and 20 months. This is how I refuel my mom tank:

Ah, the mom tank. Refilling it is one of my favorite past times! 😉 I have discovered a few activities that really do it for me, and I try to be consistently loyal to those activities. I started studying Tae Kwon Do about 14 months ago, and have gone 3-5 hours per week since! I have definitely struggled with my guilty moments for the time I spend working out and the babysitters required during those hours, but in the end I know how incredibly healthy it is for me, both physically and mentally, and how healthy it is for my children to see me doing something good for myself. After a workout, I am ALWAYS energized, happy and SO ready to be back home with my family.
In addition to this, I have a few other favorites: baking, blogging, bi-monthly date night with my husband, a few post-bedtime television shows, and the occasional game of Words With Friends.
The mom tank is so incredibly precious and important… nothing runs well if it is empty. I think many moms feel that they are doing more of a service to their family by sacrificing the things they would love to do for themselves. But I’ve learned the truth is that, more often then not, mommy guilt controls our “me” time. I wrote a whole post about it here {link to http://twoindiapers.com/2012/09/im-declaring-war.html}. But as one lovely lady commented on the post, Satan knows where we’re most vulnerable {when it comes to our littles} and attacks us through guilt. I feel very strongly that doing something to refill your tank is vital to being a good mother!
One last tip… I have discovered that putting “your” time into the family schedule really helps! My children have a sense of which days and times I work out, and they have it in their little mental routines. They just know that, unless someone is sick or we have another activity to attend, this is where mommy will be. If this just means that every Tuesday afternoon, babysitter so-and-so comes over for 2 hours while you _______ , then so be it and the kiddos will adapt.

You have to take time to take care of YOU or it becomes awfully difficult to be the best at taking care of the little ones!

A little bit of rest, relaxation and getting into the word is what gets me going again! A good nights sleep can make a world of difference! Some night’s I’ll go to bed early, around 9:30, even if it makes me feel like a grandma! I wake up the next morning feeling revived! If I’ve had a long day, I’ll spend the evening doing whatever it is I enjoy! Whether it be flipping through a magazine, watching my favorite show or a relaxing warm bath. Taking the time doing things for myself makes me feel better, naturally! At least once a week, I ask my husband to watch the kids during the day just so I can get some “ME” time. It’s not much, but it’s enough to make a difference! I might just run to a few stores by myself, go window shopping or head to a couple of places I’ve been wanting to go to. Just getting out and not having to tug my favorite little ones around, is a nice feeling! Even though after a few hours, I’m missing them like crazy!
It’s so important to me to have “ME” time. It keeps me on track with my kids, husband and home life. It gives me time to think and let go of anything weighing me down. Reading the Bible is something I want to do more often. Just hearing the word gives me relief, so uplifting and encouraging!