If you’ve ever flown on a commercial airline, the flight protocol and emergency proceedures are surely stuck in your brain. Seatbelts on. Tray in the upright position. Lightstrips running the floor of the cabin. Your seat can be used as a flotation device. And those oxygen masks: they’ll drop down automatically, you place yours over you nose and mouth and secure the elastic, then you help your neighbor or child secure their mask’s.
Take care of yourself first!
You can’t help someone else if you are struggling for air – you’ll both end up passing out. If we are exhausted and our resources drained, we are in no position to be effective helpers for our friends or family.
Parents who are newly arrived in our StandUp Parenting support groups are often exhausted shadows of their original selves. They have been in crisis mode for days, weeks and, sometimes, years.
Is this you?
Have you worked hard to get your kids good nutrition, counseling and education? Have you struggled to make sure they have their health needs met, are up to date on their inocculations and get enough sleep?
Can you say the same for yourself?
You’ve been through a harrowing time – have you gotten counseling, just for you? When was the last time you saw a doctor? Are you up to date on your routine screenings – mammogram or prostate? Are you getting exercise? Balanced and regular meals?
Remember – when you take care of yourself you are modeling good self-care to your children. You are also telling them that you value yourself.
Do these things seem hard to do? You are exhausted, after all. Consider joining a StandUp parent support group. Not only will you get ideas to deal with your family problems, you will also find ideas and support to take care of yourself. You’re worth it!
