Out of all of the wonderful roles I have been given?wife, friend, daughter, sister, trainer?there is one that stands out far above the rest?my role as a mother. I have been so blessed with 4 beautiful children that I get to love, teach, and nurture every single day, and for that I am beyond grateful. But my role as a ?mom? doesn’t stop there.
During different seasons of my life, as have many of you, I have had the amazing opportunity to be mom to so many! From my EWL peeps, to nieces and nephews, and everything in between. Being a mother is surely not bound by labor and delivery?it means so much more! From dads who have stepped into the role of ?mom? due to various circumstances, to women who have struggled with infertility but have been blessed with children through the miracle of adoption, and of course those who have shown endless love to children and friends around them providing the selflessness and care that is prerequisite for motherhood. Regardless of what ?mom? looks like for you, there is one common thread?unconditional love. And oftentimes that unconditional love means sacrificing our own personal needs for those around us.
While we love those we take care of and the things we get to do?whether it?s at home, or at work, or both?it?s also crucial that we ?moms? take care of ourselves. Yes?eating healthy and exercising regularly are so important, but often overlooked (and just as important) is taking some time for some R&R?Rest and Relaxation.
I know so many of you, myself included, feel like there just aren?t enough hours in the day as it is?so adding some daily R&R doesn?t even seem possible! Believe me, I?m right there with you. But I also know that when I do get it, even if it?s only for a few minutes, my outlook on life and how I handle the stresses in my life, improves in some pretty amazing ways:
- Reduces those stresses, and since long-term stress can cause so many health issues, getting rid of as much as I can is so important.
- Lessens anxiety.
- Boosts my mood. Those around me really appreciate that one! 😉
- Helps me remember things better. That?s a definite plus!
- Improves my ability to focus, which means it takes less time to do what I need to do, and I make better decisions.
- Helps curb cravings.
- Boosts my confidence.
- Reduces anger and frustration. Chris and my kiddos are very thankful for this one. 😉
- Helps my whole body, including my mind, repair itself = a stronger me!
The benefits of daily, or even weekly, R&R are so far reaching, that they vastly outweigh the cons of taking a personal timeout! As mothers, it is our duty to be there for the ones we love, and if we don?t carve out some time for ourselves now, we may end up limiting our capabilities in the future!
To get you started on your new path to a more healthful, restful lifestyle, I?m giving away one $100 gift card to a local day spa of the winner?s choosing! To enter, simply (1) comment below with why YOU need a mama?s day out, (2) share this post on social media channels and tag me, and (3) follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. A winner will be chosen Tuesday, May 5th. Good luck?and if you aren?t the lucky winner make sure you still take the time to celebrate motherhood and honor the amazing role you?ve been given through some good old fashioned relaxation. We ALL deserve it!
Xoxo,
Heidi
173 Responses
A spa day is my treat when I meet my weight loss goal of 180! 60 more lbs to go!!!! So this would be lovely. As a Mama of 3 I’m lucky I have enough time to post this response lol! Just as I say that, it’s time to change a dirty diaper! Ta Ta for now and good luck to all the Mommy’s!!
Mother’s Day, our anniversary, and my bday are all a couple days apart. I would love a little R and R to relax and celebrate!
This is so sweet! I’m a full time mom of a beautiful baby girl almost 19 months (and baby #2 on the way) trying to balance mommy duties, being a wife AND taking care of my father full time after the loss of my mother and my oldest brother can be a handful. Needless to say a day at a spa would be WONDERFUL! 🙂
I would love to get the opportunity to pamper myself! I’m a mom of 2 great kiddos which also makes me a dancw mom, soccer momx2, baseball mom and softball mom/coach. I’ve always put myself last and decided at the start of this year I NEED to make health and wellness a priority and need to MAKE time. I’ve been getting up at 5a daily to get workouts in and cleaned up my eating. I’ve never felt healthier and stronger which makes me so happy so that I hopefully am blessed with many many more years with my kids. They have even jumped on the healthy bandwagon with me doing workouts, cutting out sugar and my oldest is tracking her steps. It’s hard to work full time and “do it all” but it feels great to make MY LIFE a priority and that my kids are also learning to take care of themselves in a healthy way too 🙂
I’m a Mama of two sons, 22 months & 4 months. While a bit sleep deprived, I’ve been focusing on everyone & everything but myself. While I would love to win the Spa day (seriously, consider me) :), I would love to see a new mom on EWL losing the baby weight. I’m 4 months postpartum, so I’ve got a good amount of weight to lose, but not 50% of my body weight.
Two kids under 2 1/2 is exhausting! Could definitely use some time for myself because as much as I like to think I balance life well… Does any mom really give herself the r&r she deserves 🙂
I need a day for me…single mother of two girls ages 4 and 6, i work full time and have them full time so it’s definitely time I get some me time! Lol
Thank you for doing this. It sure would be lovely to visit a spa to celebrate my 85 poound weight loss. I’m close to being an empty nest mom and there are so many days I wish I could go back and do so many things differently. Now that I’m a Nana to one granddaughter so far that’s our way of getting that second chance. Bless you and have a happy mothers day! !
Heidi,I love you and your husband.your children are beautiful.
Spa day sounds fabulous! I would give it to my mom who is the most selfless person I know.
Hi Heidi!
I’m a 47 year old single mother of 2 busy, social teenagers. Been doing it as a single mom since they were 2 and 4. In order to keep them close to their father and in the hometown they have grown up in (which is one of the most expensive towns to live in, in the Bay Area, California), I rent a 1 BR apartment. My 14 year daughter is happy to share my bed and my 16-year-old son, bless his heart, takes the couch with no complaints. I work full time and in February I decided at my ripe old age to go back to school to better myself and my future, while continuing to hold down my full time job. Last night, I took a test and 2 quizzes in a matter of about 3 hours! : )
I lost my father 3 years ago in August (saying I was Daddy’s Girl is an understatement), and my 82-year-old mom is now also living in a 1BR apartment in San Jose (about 40 miles from my home), as my dad didn’t plan for our future well and left my mom with barely anything after he passed. She worked as a See’s lady up until this past year, and she is 82 years old! God bless her! I do my best to get down there to see her with the kids every other weekend that I have them and I also have her name on a waiting list at a Senior Living residence here in Pleasanton, where I live, so that she can be closer to us.
This Mother’s Day, I will be celebrating a day early, as I have to work 10 hours that Sunday. On Saturday, I will be driving down to San Jose to take my mom to Mother’s Day breakfast and then come back home to take my kids out (on my dime of course) for my Mother’s Day dinner (gotta love it, huh?)
Needless to say, a Mama’s Spa Day sure would be welcome!
Bless you for all you do! You have an absolutely beautiful family, inside and out! xoxo
Ally Nurisio <3