Last week was incredibly busy. It was one of those weeks where I cursed being a work-at-home mom with two kids under 5 and no friggin’ babysitter.
I was interviewing people all over the country, keeping my fingers crossed that they would be able to fit the interview in during my kids’ naptime, and that I would be coherent enough to ask meaningful questions. I was a participant in this distance-learning program for high schoolers (broadcast on TV!), and that required three days of planning to get someone to watch the kids.
As I was leaving the TV studio, a warning light in my car’s dashboard came on: CHECK TIRE PRESSURE. Apparently one or more of my tires were dangerously low. Just great.
I know little to nothing about putting air in my tires. I was downtown and no gas stations were around. I call my dad, who’s watching the little ones for me. I hear them shrieking in the background.
“Well….um….you can…” I hear him struggling to tend to the kids’ needs AND help me with my problem. This must be what I sound like to everyone when they call me, I think to myself.
He told me about a Bridgestone tire service two blocks from where I was. I hung up and pulled in the parking lot.
Within a few minutes, they had air in my tires and I was ready to go.
I called my dad back to say that I was on the way and they put air in the tires. “Great,” he said. “Just drive slow coming home.”
This whole experience got to me thinking about how lately, I’ve been feeling like my emotions have been dangerously low. Since starting my own business two months ago, I’ve been going nonstop and my only “break” from the daily grind is the six minutes of Netflix I watch before I pass out at night.
My “tire pressure” sure is low. I find myself nodding in agreement to posts like these way too often. Like my girl Sheena and so many other moms I know, we know something needs to change. Hell, I just said that last week. So I made some changes.
I was taking three classes this semester and it was running me ragged. So I dropped one. A hard choice, yes, because it means that I might have to push graduation back a semester, but it came down to having some sanity left.
But I didn’t stop there. Nope. I dropped my Tuesday night class (from 5:30-8:15) and I told my husband I would still be gone on Tuesday nights. Don’t look for me ’cause I ain’t gonna be around, dude. Mama needs this break and she’s taking it. Plain and simple.
This feels so much better.
It’s so great to hear that other mommies have to take time out for themselves to ensure balance & sanity in their lives. I related so much to your post!
@Nicole – I wasn’t good with balance before. If things felt “easy,” then to me, that meant I wasn’t working hard enough. But my problem is that I work TOO hard and don’t get a chance to recharge my batteries until I sputter out of control. And that’s no good for anyone!
Hang in there sis! It is wonderful that you are learning and practicing good self-care. This is all in preparation for the wonderful things that are ahead of you. You can do it!!
Sending you all the love in the world:)
Thank you!
“Self-care” is a word I was not familiar with but I’m remedying that REAL quick! 
Aww right again Tara. We have got to take time out for ourselves. It’s funny how everyone knows this but none of us really do it. Good for you for dropping the class but keeping the time out. Much needed relief that we’ll all benefit from, gone girl!
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