Before becoming a mother, I spent a lot of time doing things that made me feel good. For example, I used to run every morning with the fresh Copenhagen air, go out with friends after work, indulge in a full beauty regimen every morning and night. The list goes on. Once my first son was born, my priorities drastically changed. Running every morning was replaced with breast feeding and holding my sweet boy to comfort him. Going out with friends after work was replaced with going straight home to be with my son. Indulging in full beauty routines were replaced with the quickest beauty tricks possible if any at all. I changed and I adapted.
The changes were big and it took me some time to find a good balance. I loved the new feelings I was feeling from being a mother, there truly is nothing in the world like it but at the same time, I was missing the old things that used to bring me happiness.
I came to a point where I knew that if I was going to be the best mother I could be, I needed to make sure I was still doing things for my own happiness as well. Because when a mother is happy, her children can feel that. The same way they can feel when she is not.
I never started running again but I did start power walking at the park with my son in his stroller. Regular hangouts after work are still not a thing but making time to have dinner or drinks after work with friends at least 1-2 times a month have become quite regular. For my beauty routines, I make the effort to have my lashes and brows lifted and tinted and nails done on a monthly basis because it saves me so much time trying to look good before heading out everyday. I also give myself at least 3 minutes morning and night for a quick skincare routine and face massage. With all of these changes, I feel like myself again and have so much more joy in my heart to give to my son.
My son is now five years old and I have just given birth to my second son with my husband. I am so happy to experience the journey of caring for a new born again and I am also thankful that I am going into this with all of the lessons I learned from my first time.
To all of the new mothers out there, stay strong and remember to love yourself, your baby will gain so much from that.
LUZ
"It is an essential component of stress relief and wellness. Making time for yourself may feel indulgent or selfish, but that is far from the truth. Even small acts of self-care or self-kindness can go a long way in decreasing the feelings of exhaustion, burnout, stress and even depression that busy mothers often feel." Mayo Clinic Health System