| I'm a stressed-out stay at home mom of 3 kids (ages | | | | We don't have to go to a spa or get a massage or do |
| 9, 6 and 3) and feel exhausted. My patience is shorter | | | | anything exotic with that time. It's unbelievable |
| than ever and I need some advice on how to | | | | refreshing just to be quiet; to finish a thought without |
| recharge and be a better mom, which to me means | | | | interruption, to move at our natural pace, to let our |
| being more patient, more willing to answer question | | | | minds and bodies settle into stillness, and to have no |
| after question, and finding more effective ways to deal | | | | agenda except honoring our own impulses. |
| with many parenting issues that come up each day. | | | | It doesn't even take that much time to recharge. A |
| On the day I received this email, I had gotten up early | | | | couple hours is usually enough for me. But those hours |
| to enjoy several uninterrupted hours in the mountains, | | | | have to be absolutely mine -- no cell phone, no visits |
| and was stunned at how much better I felt, even | | | | with friends, no paying bills or running errands, no |
| though I was already feeling pretty good before I went. | | | | accomplishing anything or being productive. All else |
| So, to this mom, I have one word of advice. Actually, | | | | being equal, I like to get out of my house and into |
| three words: | | | | nature, preferably near some running water. |
| Solitude is critical. | | | | The details don't really matter. What's important is that |
| Raising kids is sort of like being devoured by small | | | | we all need time alone. Parents of young children need |
| piranhas. They'll eat you alive one little bite at a time | | | | it even more than the rest of us, but often have a |
| with their constant questions and requests and need | | | | harder time finding it. No parenting advice or technique |
| for attention. And it's not their job to notice that we | | | | will be helpful if you are too burned out to apply it. To |
| need a break and give it to us! We need to take | | | | instantly and organically improve your parenting, calm |
| responsibility for realizing that we are burning out, and | | | | your mind and settle your soul by taking some time for |
| take care of ourselves by retreating into solitude. | | | | yourself. |