On the drive to start the weekend, I was contemplating rest and self-care. After a week with Evan out of town and 2 boys fighting colds and not sleeping much, I was really looking forward to a little break. I’m sure we’ve all heard how important self-care is, but it’s so hard to achieve the balance between doing all you need to do and still taking care of you without feeling bad about it. Just wanting a break from your own kids comes along with a certain degree of guilt.
It’s different than other breaks. If you’re burnt out at a job, you may be able to take a short vacation, or even extended time away. But it’s not the same with your kids. To a degree, you live and breathe being a parent. Right or wrong, you start to find your identity, at least part of it, in the things you do for your kids.
So as I headed to meet the girls, anxiously awaiting some R&R, I balanced my excitement with thoughts of how quickly the weekend would end and I’d be back to a routine of appointments, diaper changes and bedtime. I hesitate to even share those thoughts for fear that it comes off as whining. Believe me, I feel extremely lucky that my routine is what it is.
But instead of a weekend that flew by, I got to soak up moments of catching up with my family. We didn’t get in much of a hurry to do anything, but took our time enjoying simple pleasures and plenty of food! We even got a bonus hour because of daylight savings time! I think we were all a little sad to see the weekend end, but as I hurried back home with just a few minutes to spare before Gage’s next appointment, I couldn’t help feeling refreshed. There’s nothing better than walking in the door and seeing the boys faces light up with huge smiles.
The weekend away was a welcome break, and the refreshed feeling that carries over into returning home is even better. I won’t pretend to have things figured out when it comes to self-care, because it still seems pretty elusive to me. But I’m grateful for opportunities to get some rest now and then and I’ll keep taking advantage of them when I can.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30