In my last blog I talked about how to assess your life to see if you are trying to be a Supermom, but burning yourself out at the same time.
Here’s a little metaphor to help you understand why you need to take care of yourself before you can be a supermom ☺
The metaphor of the oxygen mask
Many years ago I was attending a Mothers of Preschoolers group. This particular group was a small group that was just forming.
There were only 8 or 9 of us at any given meeting, and because we had limited time and budget we shared the duties of organizing what we would do at each meeting. At one of these gatherings, a woman who has become one of my closest friends started her presentation by reading out of a book on women’s spirituality.
The piece she read spoke about how important it is for moms to take care of themselves. The author used the metaphor of the oxygen mask on an airplane to explain her point:
Think back to the last time you took a flight.
Remember that introductory part that a flight attendant does before you take-off? The flight safety instructions?
After demonstrating how, in the case of an emergency the oxygen masks will drop down from the ceiling above the passengers head, the flight attendants will instruct the passengers to put the oxygen masks on themselves before helping others who cannot do so themselves – even children!
Why in the world would they want you to ignore your children in order to take care of your own needs first???
Simple – Because if you pass out due to a lack of oxygen you cannot help your child.
So let’s apply this to life in general…
Are you running your children around so much that you do not have any time left to take care of yourself?
Are you working in a job that you can’t stand so that your children can have expensive lessons or go to an expensive private school when there are perfectly good public schools nearby?
Are you volunteering for every school committee, baseball board, girl scout troop, etc. because it’s important for your children to have a fulfilled life?
NEWSFLASH ☺
Your children need you to be relaxed and not exhausted more than they need you to lead their scout troop and serve as the PTA board president.
Your children need you to feel fulfilled and peaceful more than they need those expensive lessons or that expensive sports gear. If your children see you as a happy person, they will be happy people!
So, put the oxygen mask on yourself first
What things can you cut back on to make more time for self-care?
What can you then add to your life for your own fun and relaxation?
Are you trying to buy your kids happiness instead of showing them how to achieve happiness through easy (often free) relaxation and self-nurture?
Comment below and don’t miss my vlog on Facebook at www.facebook.com/peacefullivingwellness to share how you are going to put the oxygen mask on yourself first!
Love & Light,
Jen
