Mother’s Day Resolutions- What I Really Want for Mother’s Day

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Mother’s Day Resolutions- What I Really Want for Mother’s Day
By: Jesseca Stenson

This will be my 5th Mother’s Day, but only my 2nd as a stay at home mom. I struggled at first after making the switch from working mom. To be honest, I felt kind of lost. That’s why for this Mother’s Day, I’ve come up with 5 things I really want that don’t cost a thing- and that I can do for myself.

1. Make time for me:
I need to realize it’s ok to need a break sometimes. Being a cook, maid, homework helper, toy finder, schedule keeper, boo boo kisser, chauffer, dog walker, bath giver, and everything else I manage to do can take its toll. I need to pencil in some me time- whether it’s unwinding with a glass of wine, dinner with friends (and no kids), exercising, or some guilty pleasure TV watching. Needing a break doesn’t make me less of a mom. In fact, recognizing I need some time alone makes me a better one.

2. Shut my phone off:
I also work from home on occasion, so you can usually find me with my phone in my hand throughout the day. I didn’t even realize it until one day my daughter drew a picture of us, and sure enough, in my hand was her version of a cell phone. Ouch. Every day I need to commit to a few “no phone” hours for my sake and for my family.

3. See myself through my family’s eyes:
There is no harsher critic than we are of ourselves. I need to understand that my 4 year old and my husband are not judging me because I’m not 100% back to pre-baby weight, or if dinner was later than usual or not planned out one night, and I shouldn’t either.

4. Spend time playing with my daughter:
At least 87 times a day my daughter will ask me to play with her, usually when I’m in the middle of doing something, which results in me saying “when I’m finished” and which rarely ends up happening. I want to get in the habit of saying “ok” instead and giving her my undivided attention. She deserves that and so do I. The dishes can wait – she won’t be 4 forever.

5. Don’t take things (and myself) too seriously:
Life is too short to stress about things I don’t have any control over. Plus that stress makes me grumpy and short tempered, and that’s not fair to anyone. I need to learn to relax more, let things go, and live in the moment.




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Jesseca Stenson is a freelance writer, wife, and mom, trying to save the sanity of parents everywhere, one article at a time. Follow her on Twitter @JNStenson.

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