Five Things Every Mother Needs

After a year of motherhood, I fell like I know a little bit about what it takes to be a mother.  I'm certainly not an expert but from personal experience, I've discovered these are the things every mother needs. No questions asked.

1. A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP.

Every mother, no matter how much experience she has, will agree with me that all she really needs is a good night's sleep. Without any interruptions, without anyone calling for water, or a clean diaper or asking where the new diapers are. It's those precious eight hours that feel like heaven and make everything seem better, rejuvenate your spirits and make the world brighter. So whenever you can, treat yourself to the luxury of a full night's sleep, even if you have to turn in at 8 pm and don't get up until you absolutely must. I guarantee, you will feel better and those dishes will still be there in the morning (I promise I won't tell anyone).

2. TRIED AND TRUE BEAUTY ROUTINE

When you are running late (which is like me 99% of the time) and still haven't had a drop of food in your mouth, while trying to get everyone else ready, the last thing you want is to spend time trying stuff on. To look fresh and put together, you need to figure out what works for you, personally. Your hair, your skin and body type are something that defines who you are. Learn to accentuate your strengths, work with your body type and find drug-store make up that gets the job done. You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars on make up and clothes to look good. Figure out what works for you and stick to it.

3. A TRUSTED BABYSITTER

Every mother (and father) needs a break. The last thing you want to do while on a date night is worry about your child(ren). You need to find someone, be that friends, family or hired help, who you trust with your  child(ren) completely. There cannot be any doubt that the person you are leaving your child(ren) with is fully capable of handling that responsibility. Make your wishes fully known, specify things they should and should not do. It's your child(ren)'s well being you are talking about and you shouldn't have to apologize for anything.

4. ALONE TIME

When you are running out of steam and just about rip to shreds everything that comes your way, it's time to step aside and take a breather. Every mom needs some 'me time' to refocus, relax and simply take your mind off everything that has to do with feeding, changing and taking care of babies. Mothers with tiny newborns, preschoolers, school-age children, or teenagers, either one or many, need time away from motherhood responsibilities just to ensure their sanity. Put some 'me time' in your schedule or it will never happen and you will feel run down and exhausted. 

5. A SENSE OF HUMOR

It's impossible to get through a day of motherhood without laughing, whether it's at the kids or yourself. The moment when your child does something wrong and you know you should reprimand him/her but all you could do is laugh? Yes that one. It happens to everyone. Just go ahead and smile at your child because really we need more laughter in our lives. If you can't do anything about a situation, you can at least get a good laugh from it and that's worth something. Stop taking yourself so seriously and take it easy, and life will seem much simpler when you can show your children you can laugh at yourself and be silly too. 

And that's that!
Thank you for reading.