BC (before children), I had an extremely stressful job. I had responsibility for service users (adults with autism), and staff, worked ridiculously long, often unsociable hours. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my work. It was an opportunity to really make a difference but damn it was stressful! It was hard (almost impossible) not to take my work home, and after a few years that kind of pressure really does start to wear you down.
Now I am a Mummy. I have the best job in the world, the people I work with are the best imaginationable (ie my boys!), and workwise, I work for myself (ok the boss can be a bitch sometimes) but it’s not so bad. That said… it is still stressful! It’s just a different type of stress, it’s Mummy Stress!
- Are my boys well?
- Are my boys happy?
- Am I doing right by them?
- Is how we have chosen to raise them the best way, will they be the men I hope they will be?
- Am I doing what I can to meet my work goals?
- Will I be able to bring enough money in to continue to say at home and work?
It’s never ending. A Mummy’s / Daddy’s shift is 24hrs long and there are no scheduled breaks, no time when you can completely switch off.
It’s stressful sometimes, especially when you have other things going on around you. I wouldn’t swap my life for anything but it would be great every so often to have a change, a bit of complete “me” time, maybe a girlie day away with my sisters and mum, I’m thinking about cheap spa-breaks (I have to say pampering myself isn’t over high on the priority list – I’m lucky if I can get a quick shower with the door closed lol), or an all expenses paid day shopping somewhere nice with no rushing, buying stuff just for me (no uniform or kiddy shoe shopping).
Roy struggles for what to get me for my birthday so I am seriously tempted to ask for spa vouchers this year. I’m losing weight and by September I’m hoping to be nearer goal which means it’ll be time to start thinking about pampering and setting straight the rest of my body! Let me just say, eyebrows like a Russian shot-putter is not a good look! A bit of me time, where I can completely switch off (as long as I can ring home occasionally to check on everyone lol) is just what the stress-doctor ordered!
What about YOU?
What would you ask for if you could have a stress-reducing treat, how do you combat your Mummy/Daddy stress, either in a big way ie a day out or trip away, or in a small way like listening to music or reading. Do you have a guilty pleasure you utilise to wind down? What works for you? I’d love to know and I’m sure others would do. (You can casually leave your comment open for the other half to see…..).
