Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Build 'Em Up: Taking Care of Ourselves

Today the Build 'Em Up Bloggers are asking us to write about how we take care of ourselves and keep our identities. While it's tempting to joke about "Who has time for THAT?!?!", I recognize that this is so important to do. It makes us better wives and mothers when we know who we are and make some time for that. So how do I do that?
Well, I love to read and I am part of a book club with other women. We meet once a month and discuss the book for the month as well as many other things. I am so thankful for this group of women. And of course, I need to take time to read the book each month too!

And there is a group of women at my church who meet once a month to work on crafts, or whatever you want. I appreciate the time to sort photos or make a dress for Rachel or to get something else done, but even more, I treasure the conversations we have together.

My friends are so important to me so I always try to have some friend time. I can't make it work every day, or even every week, but just connecting with my women friends is huge in my life.
I have also always been a part of a mom's group of some kind ever since Sam was born, as much for my benefit as for my kids. Since we've moved to Ontario I get that through my weekly Bible Study and a weekly playgroup at my church. And I volunteer at church, but never for activities my kids are involved in. So I teach Sunday School but for Grade 6s this year. And I volunteer at our mid-week program but not in the places where my kids are.

Even though you wouldn't be able to tell from my gym attendance lately, another way I take care of myself is to go workout. I feel better after I do and I know it's good for me.

Another important thing I do is, because Rachel (who isn't quite two) still goes down for a nap, I enforce an afternoon "quiet time" for Sam, who just turned four. I think he needs the down time every day and I KNOW I do! I think it's good for us all to have some daily quiet time.
And you may wonder what all these random flower pictures are about... Believe it or not, it's not just a way to show off some of my Spring crocuses! I really love flowers so I often buy myself bouquets of flowers at the grocery store and when Spring and Summer come, I love to care for my flower beds. In fact, I'm sitting outside as I write this during afternoon quiet time -- both because I love being outside (even though it's only +10C (50F) and not sunny anymore) and so I can see the crocuses blooming in the bed.

And honestly, another way I take care of myself is to blog. I love blogging. I love connecting with other moms and wives and women. I love reading your stories. I love this form of "scrapbooking" my family's life. I absolutely love to sit down with a cup of tea or a can of Coke and write about whatever is on my mind -- sometimes it's what happened that day, sometimes it's an adventure and sometimes it's just random thoughts. And I love the enforced "me time" it gives me almost every day.

So that's how I take care of myself. What do you do???

17 comments:

  1. I love all the things you listed - they are so similar to what I do!!!! So important to take time for us moms!!!! :-)

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    1. Thanks! I like reading everyone else's too.

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  3. Your crocuses are beautiful! Also- holy cow, Kelly commented on your blog!!!

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  4. Such a challenge, but it sounds like you're on top of it! I really miss my book club, and that is high on the list of things to do if I can ever get my schedule straight. :P

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  5. Thanks for linking up. I love reading these! Good luck with those pretty flowers.

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    1. Thank you for helping to host this series. I really loved reading them all too. And I'm hoping the pretty flowers are tough enough to survive the ice storm we're expecting later today.

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  6. Love unwinding with reading too! Seriously one of my favorites! Also jealous of your flowers! I can't keep any alive ever! :)

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  7. I love all the ways you take care of yourself - I have been enforcing that "quiet time" in the afternoon, too. It is so good for recharging!

    Thanks for the sweet comment on my blog!!! :-)

    xoxo,
    Erika

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    1. I think the quiet time in the afternoon is one of my daily important ways of taking care of myself. And it's good for my kids too!

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  8. I like the idea of volunteering in church in a different place than your kids are. We spent time with the teenagers in our last church and I really loved it!

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    1. I find it is a way I can also really focus on what I'm doing as opposed to being distracted by my kids all the time. Teenagers make me somewhat nervous though :)

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  9. Love all of your ideas, I like reading others and realizing that we're all so similar as moms. Thanks for sharing and for linking up!

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  10. Wonderful post. I would love to find a good book club in my area, but it just hasn't happened. I have a few good girl friends, but we need to set up a regular meet up time.

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    1. I agree that a good book club is hard to find. I never did find one in Edmonton and I'm glad my book club here in Ontario let me back in with them again! I think having a regular meet up time is vital to making gatherings work.

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  11. Hi there. I'm also a big reader, although I'm not in a book club. And like you, I love to sit down with a coffee/d.c. and my blogs!

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    1. I think sitting down with my tea and a lot of time to do blogging (whether writing a post, responding to comments, or reading other peoples' blogs) is one of my favourite me-things to do!

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Thank you for being interested in my life as I blog it and for leaving a comment. Comments make me happier than reading a good book and drinking a cold Coke. Almost :)