The End of the Starving Momma
Last year a teaching pastor at our church gave a talk about the ‘starving baker’. The story went a little something like this, everyday a baker creates an array of delectables that generates lines out the door. People flock to this bakery and the baker must work more and more to keep up production. Day after day of toil eventually begins to take its toll on this baker, because of his tireless work he has neglected his basic needs. Despite feeding so many others, he forgets to ‘feed’ himself.
As moms can’t we all relate? How often do we make time for everyone else in our family while neglecting ourselves? Do we need to spend more time ‘feeding’ ourselves physically, emotionally or spiritually? This school year I have found myself with four hours alone while my girls are at school or napping. Rather than a respite, I usually find myself frantic trying to fit in as much as possible during this time. Like the starving baker, I am realizing that I too need to make time to feed myself. Recognizing this fact, for the first time in my almost seven years of motherhood I am taking a weekend trip with three girlfriends.
Our plans are simple: surround ourselves in the beauty of God’s creation by hiking and spending time outdoors with plenty of time for conversation and quiet contemplation. We will be staying in a cabin, absent of all the instant forms of communication that would typically keep us at least partially connected to what is happening at home. As you can imagine, this trip does not come without guilt – shouldn’t we be spending time together with our family or doing things at home? I am coming to terms with the notion that this trip to revitalize myself is actually the best thing that I can be doing for my family. With days so full of making meals, driving, filling up my girls and husband with love and support, this does not leave a lot of time to make deposits towards my own well being. This weekend I will be working on me. And I plan to come home one full Momma!
Good for you, Holly! I totally relate to this post. I rarely take time out for me, but when I do, I become a better wife and mom. Enjoy your weekend with the girls–no guilt! 🙂
I really like this. I don’t have children at home, but I too am so absorbed in the many demands I have on my time that I need to get away from the routines and quiet my spirit more often.