Monday, March 7, 2011

Takin' Time for Mama

Dear Delilah,

This week is Spring Break, a week during which many of my classmates take off for warmer climates, embark on service trips, or just generally kick back and relax. It didn't take me long to decide that I'd still go ahead and drop you off at daycare today for the couple of hours you're normally there while I'm at class, but deciding what to do with my two precious hours of free time took some major deliberation.

My goal was to spend it doing something productive. I had visions of sparkling fixtures in the bathroom, a floor clean enough for you to eat off of (well, you eat off of the floor anyway, but I had visions of not pulling dog hairs out of your mouth afterward), and toys organized in something other than a haphazard fashion. I thought perhaps I could spend some time writing and scheduling letters and posts for this blog, which has taken a bit of a backseat lately. Maybe I'd make progress on one or another of my big papers or projects due later this semester, or get caught up on some paperwork for my job.

Then I remembered that when I pledged to participate in the March of Kindness, I promised to direct most of my random acts of kindness at myself. With that in mind, after we had breakfast together, I dropped you off and returned home and treated myself to yoga and a long, hot, luxurious shower.

Yoga and a shower? Doesn't sound like much, does it? It was just what I needed. I've neglected my yoga practice, and this morning was a reminder of why it so important to make time for it. Even after a brief 30 minutes of basic Sun Salutations like I did this morning, I feel energized, rejuvenated, and in touch with my body-mind connection. And the shower? Sure, we're at the point when you'll happily play in your crib for 10 minutes so I can get clean, but a nice long luxurious shower without the baby monitor turned up full blast lest you become distressed is hard to come by. I even shaved my legs! Perhaps I can count that as a random act of kindness toward your father today.

By taking some time to just care for myself and be mindful of the need for "me time", I'm feeling more relaxed and present as a parent, partner, and human being. I'd certainly call that productive. Speaking of being productive, I best wrap this up and use the rest of your nap time to make something other than my attitude sparkle.





  1. This post brought me back to the days when I was a law student with a 10-month-old. You are absolutely right to take care of yourself. Rested, energetic, well-cared for people make the best mothers. It's too bad you couldn't take a 2-hour mini vacation to the tropics though!

  2. Sounds heavenly! Good for you :) Shaved legs!? Thinking I need to schedule that one in :P

  3. It's amazing what a difference a little mama time makes! Glad you got some!

  4. Doing kindness for yourSelf truly recharges the batteries, doesn't it? I feel like I'm a better mama, partner, heck, a better person, when I've remembered to give a little kindness to myself. Isn't it amazing how taking that time is challenging? And isn't it amazing how small those comforts are, but how large an impact they can have?

    Keep up the MOK!


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