Guest Author - Susan Thompson

Moms, it’s time to start taking time out for you. I know what you are thinking, I have so much to do, and I can’t take time for my self without getting too far behind and feeling guilty. I am here to tell you that you can take time for yourself. As a matter of fact, you need to take time for yourself.

It is a fact, that moms who take time for themselves are better mothers. Think of it this way. Being a mom is a full time job, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you actually worked at an office or some other place that much you would go insane right? Exactly!

Good, now that we have that figured out, here are some ways in which you can find that time to do whatever it is you want to do.

If your children are still young enough to take naps, this is the perfect time to do something for yourself. Even if you can only do this twice a week, schedule, say Tuesday and Thursday to do something special during nap time. Maybe you can turn your bathroom into a spa with a nice hot bath, some candles, and a magazine.

After dinner, let dad take over and go for a walk, meet friends for coffee, or take in a movie. Dads are completely capable of giving baths and reading stories.

If those options don’t work for you, enlist a friend. When my kids were younger, a friend and I would swap days, I would take her kids on Tuesday and she would take mine on Thursday. We each had an entire day to do what we wanted or needed to do.

If none of these work for you, most daycare centers have a daily rate. You could sign your child up for one day a week or even one day a month. The kids get a play date, and you get a much needed break.

Most moms I know feel guilty when they take time for themselves. There is no reason for guilt everyone needs time to themselves, even your kids, so why wouldn’t you?

Remember, how much time you take for yourself every week is entirely up to you, but you should at least take two hours a week. I promise you will be a better person, wife, and mother for taking a time out.