halrunkel
“The phrase ‘working mother’ is redundant.” (Jane Sellman)
The word ‘mother’ carries with it so many expectations and inherent roles. Even in our liberated society, most households follow the same rule: the lion’s share of the housework and childcare still falls to the woman.
So, from the moment the alarm clock goes off, most moms are off to the races and many days, they simply don’t slow down until they crash into bed at night. Most mothers I work with, whether they work outside of the home or inside of it, have one sentiment in common: they feel like there just never seems to be enough time to get it all done.
What makes it all worse is that mothers are notoriously bad at taking care of themselves. They buy into the lie that they should put the needs of their children and their husbands before their own. Women can drive themselves (and their families) crazy if they view success in those terms. They fall into the role of martyr and they become shells of who we as husbands fell in love with in the first place.
I try to encourage moms to do something for themselves every day. I tell them that to be the best mother they can be, they need to put on their own oxygen mask every day…whether that takes the form of exercise or a bubble bath, so that they can actually enjoy themselves and the ones around them instead of finding themselves in the midst of a never-ending to-do list.
Peace begins with a pause,
Hal
