Grace for the Days You Need to Indulge

{Today’s post comes from our friend Cara over at Cheap Ways To. . . Cara is an amazing working mommy to two beautiful girls. She is a creative with gifts that are too many to count. We are thrilled to have Cara guest posting with us this week. I love her perspective here on taking care of ourselves. Enjoy her insight and by all means. . .indulge yourself mamas!!}

Yesterday I just needed a day. You know what I mean? I did not want to get out of bed. I dutifully took my daughter to school then climbed back in bed for a couple of hours while my 8 month old napped. I got up and ate whole wheat waffles and ice cream. I laid around and played with my baby. Eventually I woke up enough to get some work and cleaning done but it was well into the day.

This morning I was back at it – washing a load of laundry, cleaning the kitchen, packing lunches, and getting dressed and ready for the day all before 6 a.m.

Yesterday was rare, and I’m grateful for that because I hated the way I felt. Truth is I was run down and needed a minute to regroup. We all do.

Sometimes you need to eat ice cream – before 10 a.m.
Sometimes it’s ok to leave the dishes for a day.
Sometimes it’s ok to roll back over and sleep in.
Sometimes you need to say, “Honey, can you watch the kids this afternoon?”
Sometimes it’s okay not to be productive.

Sometimes you need to just “be.”

Without those still, quiet moments, you’ll find it easy to miss God in the day-to-day. Psalms 46:10 says “Cease striving and know that I am God” in the New American Standard Bible. God’s Word translation says, “Let go [of your concerns]! Then you will know that I am God.”Pick a day this coming month to just let go! Show some love to yourself. Arrange for someone to watch the kids a couple of hours and pamper yourself:

Take a bath.
Take a nap.
Get a mani/pedi or massage.
Eat some chocolate.
Go to the movies.
Read a book.
Go to the park and just sit.

Visit a museum.

Do something to feed your soul.Our days are filled with giving to others. From sun up to down our routines center on taking care of those around us. Take a day for yourself. Love yourself so you’ll have plenty to keep showing to others.

Your children need to know that you can put yourself first. Really.

We want the best for our kids and the best example we can give them is becoming a well-rounded person who takes time for herself and has her own interests, hobbies and friends.

Sometimes that means being anti-Valentine’s and turning cupid’s arrow on yourself.

When’s the last time you did something self-indulgent? What was it?

{For tips on ways to save a buck without losing your mind, visit Cara over at the Cheap Ways To. . .blog.}

{Photo Credit}

Jessica Wolstenholm

Jessica Wolstenholm is co-founder of Grace for Moms. She is passionate about writing words of grace for moms and moms-to-be. Co-author of The Pregnancy Companion book, she also blogs about TTC, infertility & pregnancy at ThePregnancyCompanion.com