Reclaiming Your Life When You Have Children

So many women loose themselves after having children. They are only known as mom know and that is what we tend to think of ourselves after having children, only mom. We need to realize that we are more than just mom, we can still be the same people that we were before sleepless nights, diapers, feedings, being a maid, and shuffling kids from one place to another. So now it is time to reclaim You!

Every mother had a life before having children. But for many women, after having children, our children soley become our lives. I'm not saying we don't love our children, but we were an individual before them, they should be an addition to our lives, not our entire life. I believe that the more well-rounded we are, the better it is for our children.

I think it is important to make time for yourself and time for your significant other. Make time, whether it is a couple hours a week or just 30 minutes. Call a babysitter or recruit friends and family to watch your children every now and again.

Use your "You" time for what you want to do. I wake up a half hour earlier then anybody else in my house. I take a short walk down the street and back, which takes 5 minutes. Then I go back inside, drink a cup of coffee or tea, and read several pages a book.

I also think it is important that you get creative about how you are going to spend your "you" time. There are many local classes that are an hour a week, like an art class, belly dancing, yoga, join a gym, go for a walk with a friend, plant a garden, take a bubble bath. Whatever you want to do. A couple years ago I joined a belly dancing group for an hour a week. I only did it for few months, but I am glad I tried something new.