Time For You — by Guest Mom Amy M

I always wanted to be a mother, but never understood how tough it really would be. It's been 7 years now that I've felt the emotional toll as I worry about each one, not to mention the physical exhaustion that parenting requires. It has taken me time to get used to this new role: mother, wife, chef, maid, driver, etc. And unfortunately, it's not something that someone could teach me or even warn me about, I needed to experience and figure it out for yourself.

Motherhood takes a lot out you. Amidst all the chaos and all the things that have to get done during a day it's so easy to loose sight of one significant person in your life...YOU. Sometimes, we are so concerned with what is going on with everyone else in our life we forget about us. Now I'm not suggesting it's not important to focus on others, service is a beautiful way to lift your spirits, but it's really hard to focus on others when we're doing it with our "spiritual buckets" constantly empty. It works for a while, but eventually we crumble. At least that's what happens to me, I get angry and resent that I have to do any of it. Not so good.

So this year I decided I needed to give back to myself and what better way to do that than by being creative — something I love/need. Each week, no matter what else I have to do, I make sure I set aside some time to do a creative project. It could be for me, it could be for someone else, it could be big, or small, I don't care as long as I am filling up my bucket. Wow. What a difference it has made to me in my interaction with those around me. It gives me a sense of accomplishment that I just can't get from folding laundry. It fills me up and I feel able to give more. Here are a few of the projects I have worked on this year thus far.


Cleaning my studio desk (I could probably do this one every week)


Covering and decorating a pre-made book (journal for my daughter)
Decorating a plain vase


Refurbishing an old piece of furniture to fit my needs (this is for my embellishments)


Making thank you cards



Making gifts (personalized onesie)


Scrapbooking one page or many


Adding color to my favorite accessory (sewing ribbon to my camera strap)

Whether you like to be creative, read a book, exercise, or bake, make sure you do something for you to replenish your spirit so you are better able to give all you can to those you love.

Have a fabulous Tuesday.

Amy