Because I’m Worth It

After careful thought I’ve slowly determined when I stopped taking care of the number one person in my life…..ME. I believe it was just shy of 10 years ago. I traded in my skinny jeans for comfy sweats; I quit reading long well written paragraphs that belonged in storylines with twisting plots and turned to the rhythmic cadence of Dr. Seuss. I said goodbye to shaking my ass at dance clubs and settled for occasionally oscillating to Dora the Explorer or the Wiggles. I swapped my high heels and suits for mom jeans and tennies. I was no longer the most important person in my world, I was a mom, with children that needed diapers, shoes, clothes, and god help me, enough playthings to fill a Toys-R-Us warehouse.

I’ve done this for 10 years now; I buy one pair of Shopko jeans, and gasp as I spend $22.00 on them. I’ve had the same pair of sneakers for the past 5 years. My clothes are purchased on the clearance rack, because I hate to pay more when my kids need jeans and sweatshirts.  My summer shoes are all 11 years old and many actually disintegrated when I wore them, on what I now call their farewell tour.

There’s that old saying, When Mom is happy, everyone is happy. So then why as moms do we constantly deprive ourselves of what makes us happy, citing lack of money or time or ambition to do the things that offer us a few moments of bliss?

We will spend that few extra bucks at the car wash for the super-duper wax, but cringe at buying good cosmetics.  We make time to get the oil changed in the car, but rarely time to get a cup of coffee with a friend. Our days off from work consist of taking the kids to Dr and Dentist appointments, but when do we take time to go get a massage or a facial - simply because we are worth it?

With the New Year only weeks away, we are quickly trying to determine what our “New Years Resolutions” will be. I have a list of goals for the New Year, but I’m also going to make that dreaded resolution.  I’m going to make more “ME” time. I’m going to buy new shoes, read more books, get a massage more often, enjoy Chai with a friend, make plans to go out with my girlfriends for coffee or drinks – and actually do it. I’m going to throw the guilt card away. This is not taking time away from cleaning my house or spending time with my kids; its strengthening my mental health, making me feel young and happy, bringing me home in a good mood – which might I add, everyone will benefit from. I’m going to paint my nails, write letters to friends and family, curl my hair and put on makeup (because it makes me feel pretty) and I’m going to enjoy “ME” time. 

The house will always need cleaning, the toilets will always be icky, the laundry will constantly need washing, so by taking a little “ME” time every day maybe I’ll feel a little bit better doing those chores. Maybe I’ll have one less headache, perhaps I’ll be less apt to yell unnecessarily, and it’s even likely I’ll feel better about myself.

And the words “Because I’m Worth It” will be written on my bathroom mirror in red lipstick, (just above the toothpaste splatter).

2012  Here I come – BECAUSE I’M WORTH IT!!!!!!