Did I Shower Today?

New moms or moms of toddlers or just moms in general, showering is overrated. (just kidding...sort of.) I am the mom of two sophomores, one in high school and one in college. I am also in education, which means I get summers off. (Please don't be fooled by that; teachers never really get the summer off.) So during the summer I try to catch up on all the things I didn't get done from August - June because that is what moms do...catch up!

It's so easy for moms to get swamped with all the ends and outs of trying to clean house, drive kids everywhere, wash laundry, cook dinner, help with homework, etc. that we forget to perform basic hygiene tasks. For most of us, we don't forget, but I have found myself at the end of the day asking myself, "Did I shower today?" Don't be so consumed with what you feel that you "have to get done" that you miss out on "what needs to get done." 

What needs to get done are things that make you a better mom and a better you. 

• Take time to for yourself. 
• Read a book. 
• Do a daily devotional. 
• Spend time in prayer. 
• Walk outside or sit in the sunshine. 
• Stand by the window and look at nature. 

Take 5 minutes for yourself. I wish when I was younger and home with my girls, someone would have said: "take time for you and this is what it looks like." One of the things I love to do is help new moms by offering to watch their baby for an hour or two, even help moms with toddlers. I did not take advantage of this service from women in my church that had teens or were empty nesters. I should have asked for help or agreed to let someone come sit with my babies so I could shower without worry. I was too worried about not taking advantage of others or appearing to have everything under control.

During my first teaching job, my coworker blessed Rocky and I with money at Christmas. He came to school and gave me an envelope of cash. I immediately teared up because what he didn't know was that we had no money to buy Christmas presents that year. I quickly tried to give him back the envelope and the words he said that day have stayed with me. "Kristie, if you refuse this money that God told me to give you, then you are robbing me of God's blessing." Moms, if you turn away other seasoned moms who offer to help you, you could be robbing them of God's blessings. Remember that next time you think, "Did I Shower Today?" and have refused the help of another seasoned mom?