8 Reasons Why “Me Time” for Moms is Good FOR YOUR KIDS

(Inside: Me time for moms is so important. But, how do moms get me time? And why do moms need me time? Read on…)

The other day I did it again.

I took time for myself.

Gasp.

When I rejoined the family, my husband asked me if I enjoyed my alone time.

Me: Yes. (Pause.) But now I feel guilty.
Husband: Why?
Me: I don’t know. It just seems like there’s so much else I really should be doing. Alone time seems like a waste of my time…and kind of selfish.
Husband (With more passion than I would have anticipated.): So, you really think you should never take time for yourself? No. Everyone needs time to refuel. You should take time for yourself. It’s good for our kids to see you take care of yourself.

Hmm. Me time for moms is “good for our kids.” I didn’t think of me time for moms like that. Taking time for myself is a mental battlefield. I suspect it is for many moms.

We know we need it. We know it’s good for us. But life is demanding – so it is sometimes hard to give ourselves permission to take time away. Or when we do sneak away to refuel, we might feel guilty, which makes it hard to fully enjoy our break.

But my husband is right: rejuvenating time for mothers (and fathers) is good – no, even great – for our kids. Here are eight reasons why…

1. Your kids learn to also take care of themselves.

What if your children grew up and never took time to do something they love like hiking, photography, gardening, or reading? If my kids never saw me take time to refuel and rest, often through pursuing my hobbies and passions, would they grow up thinking they always have to be working, serving and doing?

2. Your kids learn coping strategies.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, at some point everyone needs a timeout. One of the best coping strategies we can teach our kids is to step out of a situation, breathe deep, refuel (often through doing something they enjoy), and gain a healthy perspective before they jump back into life. Let’s show our kids through our actions that a timeout for adults is okay, too.

3. Your kids learn ways to unselfishly love their future spouses.

One of the biggest ways my husband loves me is by declaring it a “boys only” evening and giving me a little time off. My boys love their special time with dad and are always excited to see me when I return. My kids watch my husband consider my needs and treat me with kindness. He is teaching our children to someday do the same thing for their future spouses.

4. Your kids learn that community is important.

In order to have alone time, we often need someone’s help: grandparents, an aunt, a spouse, a friend, or babysitter. When we build a community of friends and family who are willing to support each other through babysitting, we teach our children that we all need each other.  Plus, it’s just so lovely to watch our kids built relationships with our loved ones. That’s a life-long blessing. 

5. Your kids learn to ask for help.

There are moments in life that can be stressful and maybe even dangerous if we do not ask for help. Our kids should grow up seeing us ask for help, so when they need to, they will also have the confidence to reach out for support.

6. Your kids learn to be brave and dream.

Sometimes, what we pursue in our alone time teaches our kids courage. For example, my favorite way to refuel is through writing and photography. It takes courage for me to let others read what I write or to look at my pictures. My kids see me being brave as I pursue my dreams. Teach your kids to be brave and dream big. They will learn if mom could do it, so can they.

7. Your kids learn a little bit about who you are.

What we choose to do in the limited time we get to ourselves often lets our children peer into our hearts and see a different side of us. They learn a little more about what interests us and what we enjoy doing. (And maybe, if we’re lucky, one of our interests might someday also interest them. At some point, it could be a place for us to connect.)

8. It gives you more quality time with your kids.

What? How is this so? If I haven’t had time alone, then during the time I spend with my kids I will sometimes be thinking of other stuff I want to do or should be doing. When I schedule my time a little better and include space for my kids and space for me, I can better focus fully on my kids when I am with them.

Mama who is reading this, are you like me? Do you need convincing to value your own needs?

Know that your family works best when you are healthy. Spending time doing things you love is good for your soul. What is good for your soul is good for the whole family. I hope this helps. And I hope the next time you get a chance for some alone time you enjoy it, 100% guilt-free.

Read more on why “me time” is important. Read the full “Self-Care & Inspiration for Moms” Series.

Why is self-care so hard for moms? Y’all, I ignored it for so long, that I had an epic mom crash. (I talk about it over here.) I never want to go there again, so it’s game on, self-care!

I recently listened to a podcast by the author of my favorite book on creativity (affiliate link), Liz Gilbert, where she talked about how she feels like she been given the divine responsibility of being in charge of “Liz,” so needs to do what’s best for “Liz.”

Okay, I hope I don’t mess up the interpretation of what she said too much, but let me tell you how it went into my heart…

God gives us the sacred responsibility of taking care of ourselves. So, I need to see myself in the 3rd person. I need to step outside of myself in and say, “Cheryl doesn’t need to be doing that. She’s done enough..she needs sleep, or to say ‘no,’ or to sit and pet her beloved dog.”

For this go-go-go, do-all-the-things girl, that way of explaining our self-obligation was powerful. Self-care is vital. We better serve our family and communities when we are in a good place. So, be encouraged by the full series on self-care and other inspiration for moms.

Me-Time for Moms & Self-Care & Inspiration

INSPIRATION TO REFUEL MOMS
7 Christian Meditations for Busy Moms Just Like You
5 Best Relaxing Songs to Make Your Day Better
60+ Encouraging and Inspirational Best Books for Mothers
Need Hope? Look for it – Hope will Always Come Back to You


SELF-CARE IN THE CHAOS
The Power of Finding Peace and Joy In the Choas of Momlife
Moms Need a Break and Good Things Can Come of It
Good Parenting Skills: The Single Best Thing Parents Can Do (Free Mini-eBook)

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