The kids were outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud and muck. There were empty
food boxes and wrappers all around. As he proceeded into the house,
he found an even bigger mess. Dishes on the counter, dog food spilled on the floor,
a broken glass under the table and a small pile of sand by the back door.
The family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing and a lamp had been knocked over.
He headed up the stairs, stepping over toys to look for his wife.
He was becoming worried that she may be ill, or that something
had happened to her. He found her in the bedroom,
still in bed with her pajamas on, reading a book.
She looked up at him, smiled and asked how his day went.
He looked at her bewildered and asked, "what happened here today?"
She again smiled and answered, "You know every day when you
come home from work and ask me what I did today?"
"Yes," was his reply.
She answered, "Well today I didn't do it!"
--anonymous
The Strain of Your Job
Husbands and fathers often forget about the hard work that it takes to maintain a household, and it is rare that they truly appreciate the daily sacrifices made by the women that make their world sustainable. Even if you are lucky enough have a husband that makes it a point to thank you regularly, the hard work and constant stress levels take their toll on you.
Knowing this, it's important to take rest and relaxation in whatever form you can find it, and to make your family aware of the need to rejuvenate yourself on a regular basis. Simply dealing with the daily strain of motherhood and of running a household and not taking the time to recharge your batteries can have dire results - at the very least with reduced energy levels and motivation to get your daily tasks accomplished, and at the very worst you can fall into a severe depression.
The next time you think about taking a spa day, don't feel guilty about the cost. Whatever the cost, it is a small price to pay for the luxury of having a refreshed Mom in the household. Take time for yourself regularly to interact with other grown-ups, and have a little bit of "me time". It will pay dividends by giving you the energy that you need to get accomplished all those little things that you take care of day in and day out.
You demand that your little one's take a nap when they get grumpy. Find a way to give yourself the opportunity to do the same thing.
The Day She Didn't Do It Interaction
