INDIANA- Let’s just get straight to the point. Being a parent is hard. It often requires putting all your needs aside to make sure your child succeeds in life. It is not an easy task, and it really does take a village to raise a child.
After the kids go to bed, you finally have time to unwind. What do you do? Read a book, watch a TV series, or go to sleep? When do you take time out of the busy family schedule to do something for yourself? I think most parents and caregivers would say there is not enough time in the day.
However, pouring from an empty cup is not helpful to anyone, especially your children. Let’s talk about some ways that you can practice self-care so you can become more present with your children.
With soccer, ballet, football, and many other after-school activities available to kids, there’s a schedule that follows all those sports or activities. As a parent, I am sure that you have a monthly family schedule that includes sports, after-school activities, doctors’ appointments, birthday parties, and many other important things. You can use that to your advantage. Let’s look at how you can take time out of your busy schedule and carve out time to practice self-care.
While your child is at soccer practice, for example, you could sit in the car or next to the field and listen to your favorite audiobook. Instead of having the kids take the dog out for a walk, you could volunteer to do it. Enjoy the fresh air and get some extra steps into your day. Just fitting as little as 10 minutes into your schedule to take some time out for yourself can make a big difference.
Have you ever thought about pursuing a new hobby? Remember that gift card you got for a free session at the local pottery shop? Cash that in and learn something new. Learning a new hobby doesn’t have to be just for you. It could be a family activity, such as gardening. Teach the kids how to grow their own fruits and vegetables. This is also considered self-care because, as you enjoy teaching your kids something new, you are spending time together as a family. Remember when I said that we live such busy lives that we barely have enough time to take care of ourselves? Think about that for your family as well. Imagine sitting down once a week to watch a movie as a family and having those special moments together.
As parents, we are role models for our children, which means that we must set a good example for them. If we can show our kids that we practice self-care and take time away from the hustle and bustle of life to take care of ourselves, hopefully, they will follow in our footsteps and practice self-care as they grow into adults.
Amber Nunaley, MSW, LCSW, is a Youth First Mental Health Professional at the Academy for Innovative Studies in Vanderburgh County. Youth First, Inc., is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening youth and families. Youth First provides over 100 highly trained mental health professionals (primarily master’s level social workers), prevention programs, parent engagement coordinators, and bilingual support personnel to 126 schools across 14 Indiana counties. Over 53,000 youth and families per year are served by Youth First’s school-based social work and community programs that promote mental health, prevent substance misuse, and maximize student success. To learn more about Youth First, visit youthfirstinc.org or call 812-421-8336.
