L is for loving yourself

Do you really love yourself, Mommy?

If your answer is, of course, I do. Then let me ask a few questions to you.

Do you prioritize your baby’s and family’s health over you?

Do you think taking care of your baby is important as he is so young now, and you can take of yourself later when he is older?

Do you think you need to sacrifice your desires for the sake of your baby?

Do you wonder where is the woman you used to be? Do you miss yourself?

If your answers to these questions are yes, you do not love yourself the way you should Mommy. Or you have completely forgotten to love yourself among everything else in your life.

It’s not your Fault 

The notion of putting mothers on the proverbial pedestal of a selfless and sacrificing creature is age-old.

And they are not completely wrong; a mother does put her baby’s well-being above everything else. But the cost of that should not be her health and desires.

It’s Time to Love yourself to the Moon & Back

You might have said this to your partner many times, and countless times to your baby. Now learn to say that to yourself too.

A mother who doesn’t practice self-love is not the ideal mother. Instead, she is a mother who is exhausted, frustrated, probably resentful of the demands of her family, and gets burnout easily. She is on a short fuse which is waiting to burst.

But a mother who takes care of herself and loves herself like she loves her baby is what we should call an ideal mother. Her love for herself creates a cocoon of happiness around her, which nurtures her family too.

Selina Barker of Project Love beautifully puts it. “A mother who looks after herself and her needs, who nourishes herself, who takes care of herself and who feeds herself with love, is a mother who is happy.”

“And a mother, who is happy, creates a happy and healthy home for the rest of her family,” Selina says.

Loving yourself in the first year of motherhood

Loving yourself in the first year of motherhood is much harder for Moms. With the arrival of a newborn in your life, you are learning to care for him, dealing with emotional and physical exhaustion, sleepless nights, and countless feedings.

And with all that, your body is recovering from the life-altering experience of giving birth to your baby.

All your love is showering on your baby, who has time and energy for self-love? I bet you just thought that Mommy.

Don’t worry here I am sharing a few tips to self-love with you. You don’t have to do big changes for that, small modifications in your thought process and some time for yourself is all you need.

Here are a few ways to love yourself the way you deserve:

Accept and love your body

Yes, it’s hard to know that even though your pregnancy is over, your stomach doesn’t seem to go in. Your breasts are heavier than before. Accept all that Mommy, because how can a body who went through nine months of pregnancy, and such a miraculous event of giving birth to a new life be anything but beautiful? Accept the new you.

If you don’t feel happiness and love when you see your reflection in the mirror, practice until you start feeling that. Tell that reflection you are beautiful inside and out, again and again.

Forgive yourself for mistakes

Yes, you are a mother, but before that, you are a human. And that means you are allowed to make mistakes. Your baby isn’t going to remember your mistakes. He is not going to grow up and say, you forgot to burp me 4 times Mommy, or you let me fall from the bed once.

Forgive yourself like you forgive everyone else for being human. You forgive your loved ones, you are kind to them. Treat yourself with the same love and kindness.

Learn to say No

You can’t do everything! Learn to say no to people, and sometimes your family too. Learn to prioritize yourself every once in a while.

Me-Time

Be it 10 minutes or 20 minutes, you need to have some me time to rejuvenate yourself. Few minutes of peace can be a blessing for self-love practice.

Buy something nice for you

I know you don’t have time and energy to go on a shopping spree. But then, you don’t have to right?
Because of Online shopping! Don’t we just love Amazon?

Do something for yourself

Take a long bath or long shower every few days. (Not the 5 minutes shower you take daily, listening for your baby’s voice every second.) Cook your favorite meal. Read a book(You can do it while feeding your baby, and babies feed a lot.)

Do whatever feels right Mommy, just remember to love yourself. Self-love is necessary for your well-being and happiness.

That’s all for now.

Love to all Mommies out there!

Note: This post is written as part of the #BlogchatterA2Z Challenge for the letter L.