One for the mothers of young children

“Baby, where’d you get your body from? Tell me, where’d you get your body from? I got it from my Mama” Will.I.Am

A lot of my friends and readers (friends readers…) are mothers with little people and although there are no two mums alike, no two kids alike and no two families alike some common ground is helpful to flourish as a Mum.

1. GET TO YOUR BED EARLY

The golden rule. As much as is possible, get some sleep. Evenings are often when we Mums want some adult conversations or me-time and that’s all good and necessary but don’t linger well passed curfew. You can’t be a happy caring Mama without your due rest so take it when you can. Go to bed for 10 o’clock eyes shut especially when feeling taxed and if needs be have a little siesta in the day time when the kids are taking theirs.

2. QUICK FLEXIBLE PRACTICES

You’re not gonna have time like the rest of them so you might as well agree now to take a few minutes here & there to do a mini-version of those activities you used to do before the kids were born.  Meditation is refreshing for the mind if you can even spare a minute to be fully and utterly present. And if motherhood teaches you one thing it is to be present! Dance around the room like nobody’s watching or take a pose, a yoga pose that is. Even better, download a Yoga Nidra deep relaxation tape or record your own shorter version if time is really sparse and whenever you have your 15, 10 or even 5 minutes immerse yourself. Yoga Nidra, the yogic closing relaxation at the end of classes is the deepest rest you could give yourself.

3. EAT BREAKFAST LIKE A PRINCESS, LUNCH LIKE A QUEEN &  DINNER LIKE A PAUPER

And be good to your digestive system as well as your stress-levels. The simplest trick for eating food that’s easy to digest to support you against stress and overwhelm is to eat your meals from a bowl. Make that a nice looking wooden or ceramic bowl. And eat simple curry-like mushy food. Cooked or roasted vegetables with oils, rice, lentils or beans. Add salt, pepper, turmeric or heating spice and some fresh herbs. Throw some basic flavours together and make a warm pot. In the hot summer days you could make that into a gazpacho (cold soup) dish but a little heat is actually supportive for when you need that extra comfy nourishment to help you through the day.

4. PLAN & BE WITTY

You’re out to work,  a class or playground with the kids, plan your meals ahead and put a few healthy ingredients in your slow cooker to be ready for when you get back and avoid that mad rush and temperaments flaring when it gets to the kids meal time and you then reach for the back of the cupboard’s less-than-wholesome ready bites – which won’t help anyone because as well as being damaging to their health it will also get the kids wired for hours on end.

5) DINNER AT 6pm, LATEST (ok roughly)

Eating as a family is nourishing for all and since the kids will be hungry early you will benefit from it too, giving your digestive system and consequently other body functions a rest between dinner time and breakfast (breaking the fast).

6) BE PRESENT IN ALL YOU DO

That word again, but yes don’t multi-task out of a wish to get everyone sweeped up to bed or wherever on time. Do one thing at a time with full intent and full attention (I’m still working on that one but the result of not following my own advice are showing up in ways I don’t want in my life!) Engage in that task alone and do that, and that only. Don’t disperse yourself. If the task is household or less than inspiring, use it as a meditative tool. Follow your kids example.

7) READ FOR INSPIRATION, every day even if just one line before bed. I can’t live without my books so this is one I take for granted but you could do something else you love and find inspiring, even for 1 minute. Make it uplifting and something that talks to your soul. Something that stays in your heart and core  throughout the rest of the day or week.

8) DRESS NICE

Add a little colour or whimsy to your outfit and you’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel

What else do you do to support yourself? Let me know in the comments. Always love to hear!