Filling My Bucket
I TRULY love being a mom more than anything else in the world. I also love my role as wife. And love my job as a psychologist. I love being able to help, care for, inspire, nurture. But I also have learned that the best way I can continue to be good at all of those things is to take care of ME. Like I tell clients who also are “care-giver junkies” like myself, “If the bucket is empty, you have nothing left to give.”
So, last weekend … for the second year in a row … I “abandoned” my children and husband and headed up north for a weekend with MY friends. It was GLORIOUS! We ate, we drank, we walked along the beach, we laughed, we shopped, we crafted, WE PLAYED! It was so wonderful to just be ME … not a role for someone else … just ME. I was only responsible for myself. And it gave me the opportunity to remember ME … as just myself … not my role to another.
The Girls’ Weekend is a big way that I take care of myself … but that’s only once a year. And, it’s actually an offshoot of self-care that I have practiced for 5 years now …
A bit after Henry was born I started up a craft group that meets monthly. It was something I always wanted to do as an adult, but hadn’t made time for when I was going through my doctorate program. After becoming a mom, I realized it was essential to “carve out” me-time … and this was a way to do it. So, I contacted some women … some long time friends, some that I was hoping to become closer to. Every month we pick a date and choose whose house it will be at … and make sure the moms have childcare! When we meet, chatting and snacking are always a must … but the crafting is optional! It truly has allowed me to have something that I hadn’t had since middle school … a group of girlfriends! The fact that I know I have a support network of these women … and I get to see them for a few hours a month … is extremely comforting.
So, to my girlfriends … old and new, far and near … CHEERS. May you always find make the time to take care of yourself and PLAY!
Laura Hutchison
Latest posts by Laura Hutchison (see all)
- Hacked By GeNErAL - August 21, 2015
- ABCs of Easy Crafts for Kids - August 14, 2015
- What is Learned through PLAY - August 12, 2015
- ABCs of Playground Parkbench - August 7, 2015
- ABCs of Encourage Play - July 31, 2015
What true words!! If only new mom’s understood the importance from the start of keeping part of who they are just for themselves, perhaps motherhood and wifehood would seem less daunting. I believe it to be very true that if the momma isn’t happy then no one else in the home is happy! Mom’s take time for you, to replenish your reserves. And do this without an ounce of guilt because you deserve it!! Being a mom, although the most wonderful job I have ever had (along with being my husbands wife), is by far the most difficult job I have ever had. But, the rewards are so sweet!!
Raising my glass to finding time for me – I’ve managed to find a local monthly craft group and went for the first time this week – I loved it.
Thank you for linking to Made with Love
Hi dear!
What a lvoely post you wrote, so bold and true. True to yourself, to your own needs and desires. I relate with every word you say! Good on you, I cheer with you.
Happy to become friends with you , being in contact with likeminded people is the very best thing indeed,
Love from ‘Made with love’ – girl 🙂
Angelique
ps: I will pin this under my board Inner child. I work with adults to wake up thier inner kid and I will send them to read this!
Angelique … I was looking a bit at your blog and boards (kinda overwhelmed with all the wonderful new connections!) and noticed that we are very much of a like-mind with what we do. Looking forward to what our connection unfolds!