Just Take a Break Already

It's been one of those days at work today. It's even steadily drizzling after two days of glorious sunshine.

Imagine: My coworker is playing back a customer complaint voicemail on her speaker phone and it began with, "UM, YES" and all three of us died laughing in our separate offices. Because laughing is better than crying.

Because it's just been one of those days.

It didn't start off that way -- at least not for me. My loving husband did the dishes last night while I rocked the baby to sleep just so I wouldn't have to do them before leaving for work this morning. I know he was exhausted from the last several days of twelve hour shifts and road calls in the middle of the night.

Because he so lovingly did the dishes, I used the time I would have spent washing them this morning, arranging a vase of flowers I bought yesterday.

I know -- not the most fabulous arrangement. But I'm learning. Look, a week ago there were no flowers on that mantel, so any flowers -- however arranged -- are considered an improvement. So there.

Which made me happy. And it seems like lately, very few things do.

My life could be summed up within a word right now: stressed. Or maybe exhausted? Busy? Unceasingly.

One of my very pregnant friends bemoaned on social media today the fact that she (has been) on bedrest and it's driving her crazy. While I do understand where she is coming from (my husband exasperatingly pokes fun at me all the time for not slowing down and taking "me time" because it'll drive me crazy if I have stuff that needs doing) -- ENJOY IT, MAMA was what I commented. I always hate being the bearer of bad tidings, but my tagline was "You will honest-to-God NEVER see another free minute in your life for the next 20 years." And that makes me want to cry at the same time I have to rejoice for the busyness.

I have had seasons in my life (summers off from college, anyone?) where I was totally an ace at staying in bed, binge-watching Netflix all day with a jar of nutella. In general, though, I am someone who must remain busy. Nevermind, idle hands are the devil's workshop, right?

But being a mom -- forget being married and working a job, too -- has really opened my eyes to the importance of balance and priorities.
My husband is not wrong when he pleads with me to take at least a minute to just BREATHE. Because you know something I've reflected on and learned excessively, especially since adding a member to our little family? It's that it takes a lot to stress me out, but I have a LOAD to stress me out every single day. And that's honestly not going to change -- at least, not any time soon. (*Cue the tears of exhaustion and hopelessness.) But that's just the way this path of life is -- any mom can attest to that. And you know what? I may not have seen it coming, but this is the path of life God chose to set me one for whatever purpose. It's time to accept that. But what's most important to note here is that the stress (at least, for me) leads majorly to anger, short fuses, impatience, and major depression -- which I then take out on my family.

My point is: yes, we strive to be SuperMom/SuperWife and get it all done; but let's face it: it really is impossible. (It's ok, you can cry; just come to terms with it, as well.) ESPECIALLY if your husband is noticing enough to say something to you about taking some you-time, you better listen; because it's not like they notice much as it is, amirite? ;)

Just as you make it a point to get those dishes washed, dinner in the oven before hubby gets home, or the laundry completed in one day (HA!) -- make it a POINT to take an hour out of the day to read or paint or play music or sit on your porch or work in your garden -- whatever, just something you enjoy doing simply because you enjoy doing it. Not because it is pressing or somebody else is screaming that they need you to do it -- do something for you. Every day. Otherwise you may find yourself taking out your stress and exhaustion on those you love most, possibly driving them away, which is never worth anything. Not even a load of laundry.

Just try to keep it in perspective, friends. It's a hardknock life, for sure; but it could always be worse. The dishes are not more important than your family's peace of mind. And we all know: if mama ain't happy, ain't NOBODY happy. Everybody ends up being on edge -- don't put them there with a knife to their back simply because you don't know how to take a break.