There's no doubt about it - motherhood is challenging (and, at times, overwhelming) but it's important not to lose sight of the fact that the best rewards for your family often come by looking after no. 1 - YOU!
Ensuring that your body and mind gets more of what it needs (healthy fresh fruit and vegetables, exercise, relaxation and time out), and less of what it doesn't (junk food, stress, and anxiety) not only benefits you but your partner and children as well.
Why do it?
Exercise is a mood-lifter, provides energy to get through a busy day and also makes for happy, healthy children. When you start looking after yourself – doing the things that you enjoy, and getting into a fitness routine - this becomes a part of your life, your children follow your lead and it becomes second nature to them.
A girlfriend and I made a pact while I lay in my hospital bed after giving birth to baby #2 - to run the Paris Marathon. And enjoy a fabulous tour of France and Italy afterwards. Yes, it would take time to do this. We set a two-year plan in place, knowing that the first year would be taken up with coping with a newborn, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, coping with a demanding toddler as well, and the list goes on....and on.
Eventually, when I did join up with my friends for those long runs in between breastfeeding and sleepless nights, we would constantly talk about running overseas and other adventures. My then Miss-three-year-old would greet me at the front door on return from these long runs with a water bottle in her hand and ask: "what stretches will we do today Mummy?"
Returning home after a running event on another occasion, I found Miss Three running around the backyard marking out a course for what she described as "the Paris marathon".
"Come with me Mummy, and we'll run the Paris marathon", she said. Of course I was delighted to oblige - but did point out that we would need to run around this backyard course the equivalent of 946 times to actually cover the marathon distance (so we may get a little dizzy).
Eventually, when I did join up with my friends for those long runs in between breastfeeding and sleepless nights, we would constantly talk about running overseas and other adventures. My then Miss-three-year-old would greet me at the front door on return from these long runs with a water bottle in her hand and ask: "what stretches will we do today Mummy?"
Returning home after a running event on another occasion, I found Miss Three running around the backyard marking out a course for what she described as "the Paris marathon".
"Come with me Mummy, and we'll run the Paris marathon", she said. Of course I was delighted to oblige - but did point out that we would need to run around this backyard course the equivalent of 946 times to actually cover the marathon distance (so we may get a little dizzy).
So as you raise your babies, know that your commitment to a healthy lifestyle is more than about looking after you. It's not selfish. You can never underestimate the long-term effects that your happiness will have on yourself and your family.
Studies have shown clear and compelling evidence that – all else being equal - happy people tend to live longer and experience better health than their unhappy peers.
And the world's largest, ongoing household study – conducted by the Institute for Social and Economic Research (SER) at the University of Essex in the UK – has also found that children's satisfaction with their family situation is clearly linked to the quality of relationships with parents, especially their mother's happiness!
So next time you feel the tugs of mother's guilt as you're out kicking goals towards your own health, fitness and happiness - push that thought aside. What you're REALLY doing is passing on all the benefits to your family: good nutrition and exercise habits to last a lifetime, protection against certain lifestyle diseases, positive self-esteem and above all, a happy, healthy Mum ready to take on the challenge.
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