Celebrate You this Mother's Day!
Mom’s and mother figures, you do it all! You likely wear many hats – chef, chauffeur, teacher, nurse, mediator, protector, manager, human kleenex, and individual. While moms are many and often all things to their children, you are also a human being with your own needs and wants and that is a beautiful thing. Mother’s Day is a day of celebration and appreciation for each and every one of you – but let me tell you a little secret, you don’t have to wait for your family to celebrate you, you can celebrate yourself too! So now you’re thinking, “how do I celebrate myself?” Here are some ideas:
Take care of yourself.
Nobody knows you better than yourself, and that includes knowing what you need. As a parent, it can be difficult to meet your needs and the needs of your child/children. Below is Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs and this displays the various needs we have. This theory represents a hierarchy of needs, meaning that each level creates a foundation for the next level of needs we have. Sometimes we only focus on this level because the minimum (food, water, rest) can feel like the most, especially when caring for ourselves. However, that is a recipe for burnout! So once our basic needs are met, we are better equipped to engage in mental health needs such as intimate relationships and feeling accomplished, and finally engaging in creative activities where we likely feel most fulfilled. Which needs would you like to focus on?
Studies show that a caring caregiver is one of the highest predictors of children becoming well-adjusted teens and adults. To be a caring caregiver, that also means caring for you!**
Treat and thank yourself for all of your hard work.
Time alone
Engaging in a favorite hobby
Dinner with or without guests
A day of no plans
Write yourself a thank you letter
Let your child get to know you.
Mother’s Day is a great time to share an interest or passion you have with your child. This might include making a family recipe, going for a hike, reading a book, painting, photography, volunteering, planting a flower, playing a board game, making a puzzle, going fishing, thrifting, or any other hobby you have or are interested in! While your children lean on you for their own hierarchy of needs, they also benefit from seeing the joy in your eyes as you engage in something you love. As you do this, you also model for your kids how they can take care of themselves and teach them that mom is a person too!
Read books that encourage relationship and honor mothers:
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst (The Invisible String Read Aloud for Kids!)
A book about how love is like an invisible string and goes with you no matter how far apart you are and how you can have many strings.
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch (Love You Forever by Robert Munsch Read Aloud)
A book about a mother who sings to her child throughout the stages of their relationship until her son cares for her and his own child.
The Mommy Book by Todd Parr (Read Aloud Book - The Mommy Book by Todd Parr)
A great book for toddlers that talks about all the ways mothers are so special, no matter what they do, with bright colors sure to catch your child’s eye.
You Be Mommy by Karly Clark (You Be Mommy Read Aloud | Inquisitive Educators | Children’s Book)
A book about a tired mother after a long day of work where the child acts as mommy for the night, performing small acts of love, until the child falls asleep and the mother comments that she will always be mommy.
How to Raise a Mom by Jean Reagan (How To Raise A Mom by Jean Reagan)
A book for kids ages 4-8 about taking care of mom for a day – waking her up, making sure she eats her veggies, planning a play date, and much more!
**As always, reach out to Mommies in Need play therapist if you’d like some extra support or don’t know where to start. We are here to help!