A Happy Mother is a Healthy Mother

When I became a mother, the first day we brought Aaden home from the hospital; it had to have been one of the most terrifying days of my life.  I had a million questions running through my head that day.  What now?  What if he stops breathing?  What if I’m a horrible mom? Despite the three parenting books I had read, I was still full of questions and insecurity. 

It’s amazing how we as mothers seem to be the biggest critics of ourselves.  Not only do we criticize the way we parent our own children, but we criticize ourselves for enjoying things that may not involve our children.  A lot of women with children have this “motherly guilt” thing and it becomes nearly impossible to do anything without our children and enjoy it without feeling guilty about it.

I spent nearly three hours thinking about this on Sunday during my 20 mile run. I was overwhelmed with the “motherly guilt”.  I thought about Aaden, worried about how he was behaving for my grandparents, what he was eating for breakfast with his grampy in charge(muchkins, whoopee pies, ice cream?), and I hoped he was thinking about and missing me.  Today was Mother’s Day after all and although I was not out getting a new hairdo, massage or manicure, I was indeed treating myself the best way I knew how.

I finished the last two miles strong although my legs were aching and glad to be done.  When my Garmin watched beeped to indicate that I had reached mile 20, I threw my arms up into the air as if I was ripping into the finish line tape and first place in the race.  I was incredibly proud of myself for setting a new personal record for distance.

 I walked a quarter of a mile home to cool-down and on my way I imagined that Aaden would come running to the door screaming how much he missed me as he jumped into my arms and cuddle his little head into my shoulder.  I imagined he would shower me with little boy kisses and hugs and make me feel like all those motherly guilt thoughts were worthwhile because he missed me oh, so very much. 

“Good job, mommy!” he exclaimed.  “Now, are you ready for me to put ice in your bath?” he asked.  My picture perfect mommy arrival thought dissolved as I realized Aaden was more excited to see my reaction while he dropped cubes of ice into my freezing cold bath then he was to actually see me (Aaden thinks it’s funny when I scream upon entering the 35 degree water and loves to continue to add ice cubes).  I had no problem forgetting about the torturous ice bath each time throughout the rest of the day that he said “Happy Moders Day, Mumma.  I Wuv You!” 

A wonderful woman in my life once told me that we all do our best with where we are and what we have.  Whether you’re a mother of many, a godmother, a single mother, a grandmother, or a great grandmother, you are probably trying to do your best (and not pull your hair out).   I do feel that every mother deserves to treat themselves whether that is dinner with girlfriends, a pedicure, a new hairdo, or a 20 mile run.  I believe that an essential part of doing our best at parenting is finding ways to keep ourselves happy and healthy.  Sorry ladies, we cannot cure “mommy guilt” but we can learn to trust our best!

Workout: Long, Slow Day
Time: 3:13:49
Distance: 20.08 Miles
Pace: 9.39 Minute per Mile