Image by Tiny Tribes from Pixabay
Parenting a toddler was meant for twenty-somethings. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it. It just means you have the wisdom to parent differently! Today, we are going to talk about self-care. What is self-care? How do I accomplish caring for myself?
Self-Care
Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay
This term, self-care, was not a term I heard in my 1999 -2017 parenting journey. Self-care came onto the scene, for me personally, in 2019 when I began caring for my grandson full-time. There are lots of details that I could fill you in on, that would help you understand the enormous pressure we were under, but in the meantime, those things will have to remain silent.
Caring for myself came in stages. First and foremost was daily connections with God in whatever time I had through devotions, bible reading, and prayer. Without God, I couldn’t continue to do what I needed to do- care for my infant grandson while dealing with my father’s death while watching my daughter sink deeper.
I look back today and shake my head. Those were some VERY hard days. I remember bawling during my evening showers. These showers provided me with an outlet for my emotions which I stuffed all day. Plus, I got to feel clean from all the “stuff” of the day. Whether it was baby spit up or demonic spiritual yuck. It helped me to relax and release.
Counseling
Counseling provided me with the necessary mental health support. The circumstances I was under were short of normal, and this could have led to some overwhelming anxiety. But God graciously allowed me this opportunity, and I attended counseling twice a month.
In counseling, I could share my fears, my experiences, and my feelings in a safe environment. Here, I received Biblical guidance and assurance of God’s continued love for me and His faithful walk with me. For many months I did not feel like smiling. There was no joy that I could find. This was oppression of the greatest proportion.
My work in counseling went on for three years. I looked forward to each session as I felt understood and upheld.
Stay tuned for more…
Michele Bruxvoort is sure to draw you in with her delightful sense of humor and love for living life. She enjoys reading, repurposing, as well as remodeling the family home with her husband. Drawing from her life experience as wife, mom, and follower of Jesus, Michele brings you a very honest and real perspective on life. When you don’t find her writing, you can find her mowing lawns, stocking shelves, taking care of her grandbaby and tackling her latest life adventure.
Wisconsin native and empty-nester, she now makes her home with her husband of 27 years in the South West Prairie plains of Minnesota.
