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???