The little one is sick again (sob!) and the dog goes in for surgery tomorrow so I've been on that line between wanting to flip out because I am so extremely overwhelmed and just wanting to curl up in a ball and cry because I'm so stressed.
I have been sitting in my office, busy with work, and I heard a woman in another office talking to her friend about how she is so stressed out that she has been snapping at her two year old and how that's just not fair to him. It seems to me that as women, we really never get the time that we need to regroup, rejuvenate and just relax with our families. We always have more to do, things to worry obsessively about and lists a mile long.
I have always been really good at dealing with stress. I love to read good mysteries, take long baths with a juicy gossip magazine and a glass of wine, and I was always the first to suggest getting together with friends for dinner and drinks to unwind and celebrate the latest birthday, promotion, weekend.
Now, life is too busy, my time with my son and husband too short, and I never seem to have "down time". How do we, as women, mothers and friends, get the life that we want when we are just so "on" all the time?
My nails are bare, my hair in a curly ponytail instead of its usual blowed-out sleekness, and I cannot tell you the last time that I wore a shirt without getting snot or spit up on it by the day's end. At the end of a work day, I just want to collapse into bed, not take a long soak.
I have to start reminding myself to take even 10 minuets at the end of the day to reflect on the day and the positive things in my life. Even though it's the hardest stage that I've experienced, I'm also happier and more fulfilled than ever. I just have to remind myself to take that time to de-stress and appreciate the moment.
My goal this week is to bring some balance back into my life. I am going to commit to some "Me Time". I am going to do my very best to accomplish the following by week's end:
- One long, hot bath that does not include an infant, baby shampoo or rubber duckies. Just me, US Weekly and a glass of wine.
- A manicure and if I have enough time - a pedi too. No reading parenting magazine or my blackberry while I get the pedi either.
- A phone conversation with my best girlfriend. And I'll really listen. To everything. No multi-tasking.
- I will have a dinner with my husband that I cook. We will have a conversation about anything non-work or baby related.
That's enough for this week. We'll see how I do. Now, go and start your list.
