Sarah Musyimi Bamba, CEO, and Founder of Bamba Adventures and Events was a young mother when she gave birth to her first kid, and the joy of having him caused her to lose track of time. She narrates, "Every little chance I had, time was spent with my daughter." She continues, "I even found myself bringing him to my Chama meetings because I just couldn't keep away from him." However, when her second child was born eight years ago, at the age of 6, things changed. She started to experience burnout and understood the need of taking breaks as a parent. "I'm grateful to be a parent, but it can be overwhelming at times, and one may easily forget themselves in the process." You also lose connection with friends, and I came to the realization that I needed some time to regroup," she adds.
Self-care is the current term and fad on social media. Even when the world becomes more chaotic, psychiatrists encourage parents to take time away from parenting to care for themselves. Children require attention all the time, therefore raising them is a 24-hour job. As a result, it can be emotionally and physically taxing for parents to continually let their kids dictate what gets done and be at their beck and call, especially when they neglect to take care of themselves.
"Just like children, adults require relaxation." We require time for our personal needs, time spent with friends, and time spent on activities that bring us joy, such as our hobbies. Children frequently believe that they have a limitless amount of energy since they are not developmentally capable of recognizing the boundaries of their parents' concentration and energy. "Being a parent does not imply losing your mental health; rather, it means striking the correct balance between family and yourself and managing it in a way that allows you to be a better parent," Sara adds.
Being in the travel sector, the mother of two reveals that she enjoys taking vacations with her friends for self-care. When that is not a possibility, she will go out for rhumba, dine out, dance, or do anything else that will refresh her and allow her to return home to a happy mother. "Once upon a time, I used to go on solo walks with just a guide once a week." It helped with fitness and was revitalizing. Because my spouse works outside the nation, we always make time for nature hikes when he returns. It restores the link between spouses. "We're traveling down memory lane, and it's the nicest feeling," Sara adds.
Sara feels that some parents avoid taking time out for themselves out of guilt. Most parents believe or have been taught that taking time for themselves is selfish. With this perspective, most parents continue to give to others until they run out of things to give. As a result, they become resentful and may lose the joy of parenting because they believe their children have robbed them of their life.
"Some are unaware of its significance. Some may see it as a waste of money, while others may be unable to afford it owing to financial constraints. They don't realize that if all they do is give, give, give without recharging their batteries, they will eventually run out," she says.
Parents, according to psychologist Elmard Regan, should learn how to set boundaries with their children to guarantee that their own needs are addressed. They should also learn to overcome the guilt associated with taking time off when they are feeling overwhelmed for the benefit of their mental health.
In addition, parents can occasionally hire a babysitter and just turn it off. A few hours of grownup time may rejuvenate your soul and attitude toward life. They can also sleep earlier. People who do not get enough sleep become lethargic and cranky, and they are more prone to become ill if they do not receive enough rest.
Content created and supplied by: Dadson1999 (via Opera News )
COMMENTS