♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦
Topic #163
How do you recharge?
Welcome back to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop! If you’re new to the series, the authors included are grateful for your reads and appreciate, even more so, when you share our writings with your friends. If you’re new to the series, welcome aboard. The authors engage and impress weekly. Be prepared to become a regular reader.
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
Recharging the old batteries has gotten more challenging since becoming a mother. Most days, meeting my obligations as an author has been impossible. Mostly everyone cuts me some slack, understanding a toddler is a big responsibility and a big job in itself. On top of that, I have my duties as an author that include five pages and a couple groups on Facebook alone. Mix my animations, ideation, day job, the dog, and self-care into that equation, and you have a deficit for sure.
I’m tired! And, I’ve taken to putting my rest above everything else that doesn’t affect my child, because a tired mama is going to affect the quality of care my baby gets. She’s first and foremost my priority, above all things, and part of that care is my own self-care, including rest and health checks. But, let me tell you, that child does not care if I need to eat, she’s done and wants to play. You will get off your rump and do as she wishes, or so help her, you shall hear her roar! (I hope that made you moms of little ones out there laugh knowingly.)
Me and the kiddo have a lot of fun, and spend a lot of time together. I’ve waited a long time to have a baby, and It’s not been disappointing at all. I’m all in. Nothing else matters more.
In the years to come, little K will grow and need me less and less to watch over her and take care of her needs. I plan on seeing her grow into a strong, independent person. That means a healthy start with a stable home life. That stability entails plenty of rest and play.
How do I recharge my batteries with such a huge to-do list? Absolutely, it’s not easy, but I get there. I have made rules and stuck to them. The main thing is to remind myself that all stages are temporary. As an infant, she was in constant need, but slept a lot. I was able to work while she napped, and relax while she nursed. Some parents forget to go with the flow, and some can’t because their responsibilities beyond baby are necessary things with which they must comply. We all do things the way we have to, in order to get through the day and meet the needs of our families and selves.
Now that little K is a toddler, she’s awake most of the day, taking a short nap in the afternoon to recharge her batteries. I’ve altered the flow of resting along with her, to cramming in all the things I need to get done in a day into those naps. Recently, I adjusted my Saturday morning schedule to better meet both our needs: I get up first, take care of the dog, prepare breakfast, go upstairs and do my laundry sorting and bed making, and get that laundry started. In addition, I’m finishing up her laundry from the night before, and then getting her up and off to breakfast. Now, my laundry is done around noon, and we have the rest of the day without any hassles. Putting away my laundry waits until the evening, when I can get back upstairs to it. When she naps, that’s when I get sorted with cleaning up and dressing. A little dose might come my way if she stays asleep long enough.
What if she doesn’t sleep, though? That’s why I don’t wait to get things started for the day, and jump right in. Friday nights aren’t glamorous outings. I do her laundry and bedding, and it’s off to bed early to start my weekend on a good foot. Trust me, I’m way too exhausted to stay up or go out anyway. And, that change happened long before her.
Sometimes, I might stay up a little late working on the blog, if it’s a content week for the site. The lack of sleep is huge! But, things have got to get done. Last year, I started with a new rule: If you’re tired, you go to bed and get your sleep. It can wait. Your health cannot. That mantra has stuck, and guilt with it.
Yes, I’m guilty about taking time to rest instead of working. What can you do? Guilt is apparently not something you can escape in this world. It will find you in one form or another. Pretty much, I just blow it off the best I can, but I’m sure it makes me more stressed and thus more tired.
Recharging isn’t just about getting my sleep. Research, watching film/television, and keeping up with current events is a major way for me to get reinvigorated in both my writing and my life. Pausing to spend a moment with my dog, Fionn, or snuggle my baby also reminds me of all that is worthwhile. That is very recharging for me.
Is it weird to say that going to a day job is also a recharge? During the week, it affords me a mental break from the tasks of being a mom, and gives me time to think and do things on another level. Effectively, this is similar to taking a shopping trip, while someone watches the babies. Getting a minute to drop one set of responsibilities for another, I have found, is a great way to recharge. The switch keeps the brain active.
Another activity: drawing my Zo Duck cartoons.
Essentially, getting the brain to switch focus tends to wake up the brain, and keep it buzzing—interested. Being busy helps me to sleep better, too.
Let’s hop on over and see how the other authors recharge…
I always found hanging out with my kids to be exhausting and, paradoxically, recharging. I loved to spend time with them. I still do now that they’re adults. They’re great people.
My motto was that housework can wait-babies were more important!
😀 What’s housework? LOL
Sounds like you have it down! Awesome job, Mama! <3
I’m trying! She is very happy, so I must be doing something right.
I used to nap when the babies slept. If you can do this it really helps!
i used to! It really was a big help. Best piece of advice about child rearing that I had.