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Looking back, I can hardly believe I’ve learned any self-care hacks from parenting. During those early years, I completely forgot how to take care of myself. But in retrospect, I did learn something. Maybe the lessons I’ve learned can help you.
How Can You Learn Self-Care Hacks from Parenting?
“Your daughters are so well-behaved,” the church lady cooed as she watched our adorable daughters in their *Daisy Kingdom dresses politely shake hands with another parishioner.
“Thank you,” I said. Inside, I tried to hide my giddy sense of pride. I was doing this parenting thing the right way, after all! Other adults enjoyed my children. The emotional energy required to “raise my children” exhausted me. I spent more time worrying over them and trying to micromanage their movements than I did taking care of myself.
By the time they reached their teen and pre-teen years, I wanted to run up to the next pregnant woman I saw and say, “You’ll regret becoming a parent! Your kids will do things that frustrate you, anger you, and disappoint you deeply. Just saying.”
I finally realized what I should have understood much sooner. Children were never meant to be our possessions. Nor should we expect them to turn out just like us. God created each of them in HIS image. Full of potential, beauty, brains, and creativity. Maybe I would have had more time to take care of myself if I had spent less time trying to raise my kids and more time enjoying them.
No matter what season of life you find yourself in, the self-care hacks I learned from parenting will help you. Maybe you’ll find more time for yourself and have more in your tank to give your children or grandchildren. Perhaps you don’t have children yet. Today’s episode will help you understand how to avoid the mistakes I made. In doing so, you’ll have more energy to take care of yourself. Micromanaging is exhausting.
What self-care hack would you share with younger parents if you are a parent?
*If you know how to sew, you might remember those darling, frilly dresses from the pattern catalogs. My parents lived near the Daisy Kingdom flagship store, and I always visited to buy seconds of their fabrics at prices I could afford.
Show Notes
You can learn more about generational trauma here.
Our bodies keep the score when it comes to stress and trauma. This episode explains how and why.
Have you ever tried using the do-over?
Come Back Next Week
Join me next week when I interview Mary DeMuth, author of Love, Pray, Listen.
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Knowing our children don’t belong to us is something every parent needs to accept as soon as possible. 🙂 But also important to remember is that as much as we love them, God loves them even more!
Lisa notes recently posted…Are You Listening With Both Your Ears? —Grace & Truth Linkup
I just turned an article into an editor on the topic of what I wish I could tell my pre-mothering self, and I think a major point is the pitfall of striving for perfection. You only succeed in driving yourself and your family crazy!
Michele+Morin recently posted…3 Parenting Insights for Raising Emotionally Healthy Men, Good Husbands, and Strong Fathers
I agree with Michele’s comment above! And can relate to your post here Anita, I think the hardest years of parenting for me were the adolescent ones.
But God is gracious & we learn valuable lessons along the way 😊
Blessings, Jennifer
Tea With Jennifer recently posted…Writing under pressure!
Beautiful perspective, Anita! Parenting is a journey that I don’t think anyone is really ever prepared for. But maintaining the perspective that our children are not our possessions but autonomous creatures is very beneficial for both parents and children. I keep coming back to the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song “Teach Your Children” where it moves from parents teaching their children well to children also teaching their parents well. We learn from each other every single day. Great post!
Shelbee
“Children were never meant to be our possessions” — BRILLIANT!!
This is timely for me as I begin the new homeschool year with my teens today! Blessings…
Amy Jung recently posted…Do I Live Life Like I Believe it’s Under the Lordship of Christ?
Such hard concepts to grasp when you are in the thick of parenting. I wanted to be a supermom so badly that I drove myself crazy! (and probably others, too)
Jerralea Winn Miller recently posted…It Depends on Your Point of View