I WAS the biggest martyr – never taking time to myself – because I felt like it would not be fair to my family. I felt like taking time for me was robbing my family of the time I should be giving to them. I said WAS because I have learned my lesson in this area of my life. When I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis three years ago, I had many lesson to learn. Taking time for me was one of the most important lessons. If I do not take a break at some point each day, I am not able to have enough energy to care for my family in the evening. If I do not have some mommy-time, I cannot make dinner, clean up, get the kids in bed, or do anything else that needs to be done in the evening. So, taking time for myself – which I used to view as selfishness – is now vital to my being able to care for my family.

Although not all moms have my disorder, taking time for yourself is something that all moms can benefit from. Stress has a sneaky way of building up on us. Moms are especially at risk. It seems natural that moms, the caretakers of the family, often want to care for and help others. However, it is very easy to find yourself doing too much and the stress begins to build. The best way to rid yourself of some stress is to take a little break each day. Even fifteen minutes a day can help. A little time to yourself can give your body a chance to de-stress. My taking a little mom-break, you may find that you feel better, have more energy, and are better able to finish your day since you have had a chance to get renewed and refreshed.

About the author: Alicia H. Tucker is a homeschool mom of three, after having taught in public schools for over ten years. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Education with a focus on Curriculum and Technology. She is a freelance writer and is currently working on writing her first book.

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