Mama Care Monday’s In March

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OK, mamas.  We all know that as moms, we put everyone in our family first, and ourselves last.  I always talk about getting some ‘me’ time.  My husband frequently encourages me to get out of the house, see friends, go shopping, get my nails done, etc.  I agree with him and say “yes, yes… I need to plan something,” and then do nothing.

My twin girls just turned one, and are more aware of what’s going on, more aware that mommy isn’t holding or playing with them.  They are becoming very clingy and will crawl all over me, pulling up on me constantly.  If I’m holding one, the other will force herself into my lap, which makes the other one scream.  If I am in their line of sight but am not holding them they start crying. Unless there napping I feel like I have to be holding them. Don’t you girls understand I need some time to myself, even just 5 minutes!?

And then there’s my adorable threenager; one minute he will crawl into my lap and tell me he loves me, and the next minute launches himself onto the floor in a kicking-hitting-screaming frenzy. I have to get the threenager, Theo, ready for preschool Tuesday-Friday morning.  The bus picks him up at 7:47, which is early for me.  Now that we are getting him up at 7:00 to get him ready for school, he comes frolicking into our bedroom anywhere between usually around 6, EVEN ON THE WEEKENDS, exclaiming “I’m ready to be awake!” It’s the weekend, Theo, Mommy and Daddy are NOT ready to be awake, and we are CERTAINLY not ready for you to be awake.

The point is, getting him ready in the morning is exhausting.  He’s not well rested, no matter how early we put him to bed.  He will throw himself on the ground an average of 3-5 times each morning, shrieking, because of some awful task I’m asking him to complete;  such as put socks on, or use the potty, or WASH HIS HANDS after the potty.

I’m usually really good about staying calm with the kids, but there is something about the early morning scream fests that go right through me.  It’s just so irrational.  I am spending my mornings arguing with a tiny person who wants to go to school with no pants on.  Are you sensing the tension?  I’ve been losing my cool in the mornings way more than I’m comfortable admitting.  Something has got to change, and I have decided to implement some “Me Time” into my life.  We all know it’s important as mommies to take time for ourselves, yet we rarely do it.

I’m calling this series “Mama Care Monday’s in March.”  Each week in the month of March, I will build time into my schedule for 1 area that is important for me.  The following Monday, I will come back and report on how it went, and how it made me feel.  Maybe by the end of March, I can put it all together and do all 4 things each day!

• 2/27-3/5: Exercise
• 3/6-3/13: Time to myself (every day)
• 3/13-3/20: Start taking care of my skin
• 3/20-3/27: Remember how to apply make-up

Exercise

I used to exercise 5-6 times a week.  After I had Theo, it went down to 2-4 times a week, but it still happened!  My twins are 1, and I have exercised maaaaaaaybe 2-4 times SINCE THEY HAVE BEEN BORN.  I keep making excuses.  First I told myself that I would exercise when they slept through the night; then, I told myself I would start when I stopped pumping. Friends, I’m ashamed to admit these days have come and gone, and I have not started.

At one point I decided I was going to do T25, but that lasted half a workout.  T12.5 anyone?  The truth is, I’m exhausted all the time, and that isn’t going to change.  I care about my health and my body, so I just need to make it happen.  I’m going to start with ten minutes a day of exercise.  I can try to aim for more, but if I make my goals too high, I will get frustrated and give up.  My routine will look like this:

• Monday: lower body
• Tuesday: upper body
• Wednesday: cardio
• Thursday: abs
• Friday: lower body
• Saturday: upper body
• Sunday: yoga/stretch

I’m only doing 10 minutes a day! Totally do-able.  I started Monday, and so far I can report that I’ve successfully not quit.  Come back next Monday to get the deets on my workout plan, and if I actually made it a full week.  Maybe I’ll even throw in a picture of my hubby in an awkward yoga pose!

Do you feel like you need to take time for yourself?  I would love for you to take this challenge with me.  Think of 4 areas you would like to focus on (or even just 1 area for the first week!).  Let me know in the comments, or via e-mail what you’re choosing to do for yourself.  I’ll even help you brainstorm ideas if you can’t think of any.  We’re better wives and moms when we take time for ourselves.

Did I mention this is convenient timing, as the hubby and I are going on vacation in April? Ok.  See you guys Monday!