Learning How To Take Care Of You 

I am still learning this one...I used to find time to read but was made to feel guilty for doing so...I think I used it as an escape...Funny, I haven't had time to read a good book in months...I have trouble sitting still long enough for one to hold my interest...for very long anyway. I like a cup of coffee, while sitting on my deck watching the bluebirds..It is only about 10 minutes but wow...I also bought this fabulous purse...I have never done that...It was always $10-15 dollar ones at Walmart...I feel so good carrying it...In April, I had my first pedicure ever...I was like, why the hell did I never do this before? Oh, yeah, my stbx was spending money faster than it could be made and I didn't feel like we had it to spend...I bought 3 pair of shorts here at the beginning of summer, I usually buy my stuff at the end of the season when it is on clearance...but I didn't have any that fit me...I felt guilty and then I was like, I can do this....I work and I work hard damnit...
Just little things mean so much to me...and it makes me feel good....

After years of jumping up and hurrying around for others I finally said enough, I need some me time!So my time is when I first get up in the morning, I need wake up time with my coffee before I start my day. I have always been an early bird, generally 5 a.m., so before anyone else would be up I spent at least 1/2 an hour just enjoying my coffee out on the deck (weather permitting) and planning my strategy for the day... Now when someone else gets up early, arggg! LOL!

this was an excellent post. Sadly, my life is upside down because my wife took such good care of me and my children. I sure miss having someone pick over me and the little things that made me know she cared about me. Now I am a single parent get up every morning at 4am start breakfast, get the shower running, start waking up my son as I have to be at work at six so he goes to a sitter at 530am. I appreciate my wife and everything she did for me more than ever as her being gone has truly shown me how valuable a wife is. I just can't wait for the next one. :D

Moms really do have a tendancy to put themselves on the back-burner. I know I feel guilty & selfish taking time for myself. It must ingrained into our DNA somehow. When I allow myself time to just do 'nothing' at some point during the day, I typically feel as if I should be up taking care of something, a load of laundry, dishes, dusting, bills - something else NEEDS to be done, so why are you just sitting here!! Get up! Get to work! It's hard to realize it's ok to relax for a few moments & recharge.

Deborah what a great post!  I think all mom suffer from this. Jump out of bed, hurry wash face and teeth and start taking care of everyone. Funny, no one thinks of us. Instead it is "mom, I need this, mom, I need that. Mom can you take me there?". "Mom don't forget to pick up..."...(sigh)

I am learning slowly but surely to care of myself. The 15 year is assuming more responsibility. She can certainly iron her own clothes.  The boys are 7 and 5 andd are doing their share of work. Nothing major but every little bit helps.

I noticed the little one at his school would clean up his area and then take a litte brush and dustpan and pick up his area.  He was 2 yrs old. I was shocked.  Hmmm. Guess what I bought that weekend?? lol. Two brushes and dustpans. Each nite that is their job.

Since the divorce I have progressed. The 7 year old takes out the trash on garbage day. The little one take our recycle things to the bin. TThey both take turns bringing in the bins.

I hang up my sheets and towels outside. The boys bring them in and Nadia folds them. 
 
It isn't much but it is such a great help.

I joined a gm. There were always excuses for not doing it. I cut my own grass and that was enough exercise for me. I had so many responsibilities.  How can the family handle me being away 1 hour. Imagine that?

Whatever. I instead hired someone  to cut darn grass and now I go work out every day for an hour after the kids are in bed. It was something for me. It makes ME feel good about me. 

Funny, I am alone but find more time for myself now. He has the kids every other weekend. Now he has to step up to the plate and ASSUME some responsibilty.

Great post!! Just a reminder to us all to take care of number one:-)

Abrazos.