A) Follow the flight attendant’s instructions and put your mask on first and then assist your child.
B) Put your child’s mask on first and then try to hurry up and put your mask on before you pass out.
Answer truthfully.
How many of you answered B because you have a Superwoman complex or because everyone else in your life comes before you? Yep, me too.
But let’s think about this reasonably. The flight attendants ask you to put your mask on first so you will be awake and able to follow instructions in an emergency. A handful of children won’t be of much use if their parents are unconscious from low cabin pressure. (Disclaimer: If it were a true life-or-death situation, you can bet that I would sacrifice myself for my child.)
The psychologist I’ve been meeting with for the past six months is a big proponent of “put your mask on first.” In other words, you must first take care of yourself before you can take care of others.
At first, I really balked at this idea. Whenever she suggested something that I do for myself, I came up with every single excuse in the book not to do it. But she persisted.
Slowly, I started to indulge myself a little bit here and there. The first major thing I did was stop at a new age gift shop and have a tarot card reading. That’s not something I would normally do and it was totally impulsive. I had fun and *gasp* nothing bad happened.
Then a few days before Christmas, my therapist suggested that I get a massage before all of the family events. She knows how painful my past Christmases have been and she thought it was a good idea to start off the festivities relaxed as possible. I couldn’t come up with a decent argument so I agreed. I was excited as soon as I made the appointment. As I mentioned before, it was an excellent decision.
The week after Christmas I found myself looking forward to Friday morning. My guys had a morning out scheduled and I planned to do some fun shopping by myself and get a pedicure. That’s when I realized that the philosophy of taking care of me first really does have merit. I texted my BFF Marcia and suggested that we each do a little something for ourselves every week.
No, that doesn’t mean I’ll have a pedicure or a massage every week. My “me” time doesn’t have to cost anything. I enjoy browsing through a bookstore, picking up book I usually wouldn’t select, and reading a few pages. Or staying at home and having uninterrupted time (no phone calls or questions from the kids) to read or work on a quilt. How about a nap? Or a nature walk in the rain?
I’m still not doing New Year’s Resolutions but I would like to add a third goal to my list of two goals for the year. My third goal is to make sure that I do something for myself (which includes “me” time) at least once a week. Because I really do believe that it makes for a happier and healthier me.
Do you take time for yourself?
6 comments:
I am finally taking time for myself as well...still I tend to drop everything for others...but at least I am taking care of me. Good for you for doing it. I think it is much harder for women to think of themselves first because we are so used to sacrificing, I think in our generation we were taught that sacrificing for the good of others is the right thing to do.
For starters the kid so gets the mask first. Sorry just going to happen.
As we agreed on Friday doing things for yourself is defiantly a good idea. After my treat for myself last week I felt so much better. Took my time coming home Monday night to go wonder around Micheal's. Didn't buy anything just wondered around getting ideas. It was nice. Got to get back to doing girlie things for me. Thanks for the idea and inspiration.
Truthfully, I would probably put the mask on my kids first. And then I'd be no use to the flight attendants at all.
Doing things for myself is something I really need to learn how to do. I wish there were more time in the day so I could -- but I know I'd just use the time to do something else for the kids.
I love the concept but have trouble practicing it myself. However, as I wrote yesterday, my resolution is to be nice to myself so I'm with you on trying to do this!
Love this metaphor. I think it is so important to take care of ourselves and if we neglect to do so, we cannot properly care for those we love. That said, it is hard (logistically and emotionally) to carve time for ourselves, isn't it? Such an important thing to do though. Great post.
The answer is obviously A. Children don't require as much oxygen as adults do, therefore they will last longer in a vacuum. Besides, you can always get another child, if the one next to expires. >;-> You can't get another you. Speaking as a child-free person.
The world revolves around me. There's no such time as "not-me" time. Ergo, all time is "me" time.
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