Ah..... Mondays! Before kids, Mondays were simply a reality check after a weekend of lolling or partying. Those were the days! Now, as a parent, the reality check never ends. Mondays are my hardest days - when the tiredness of the weekend collides with the anticipatory stress of the week ahead. No wonder I feel like getting back into bed and binge watching Brooklyn Nine Nine. Bring on that four day work week!
This Monday began after a weekend of catching up on work, house chores, cooking, keeping the kids off devices, getting exercise and navigating a few adult and child spats... In other words, the endless life treadmill - no weekend break!
On a gloomy, cold Monday morning (doesn't help does it?), I found myself facing a 10-year-old having an existential crisis over her school uniform. Other parents may recognise this: it took every nerve-ending and every ounce of wisdom and restraint in me to avoid losing my temper, screaming, storming out.... and instead, patiently soothing her through the irritations of trousers that were either too loose or too tight... socks that didn't line up perfectly and t-shirts that 'don't feel good.'
It's now just before lunchtime and though I have cleared a major task off today's list - a really important career related deadline - I still feel a bit shell shocked. Just sharing that feeling - in case you're also struggling with Monday Morning Parent Blues!
But also sharing because apparently, Mondays are the best day for self-care - according to The Monday Campaigns. A non-profit partnership between several US universities, the campaign aims to help us all reset and prioritise our well being on the first day of the working week. Take that Monday!!
Chin up - I'd still rather have the wee monsters than not ... and the work will get done somehow! (And there's always brainless binge watching guilty pleasure to be had!) So kick start your Monday with some much needed stress relief, exercise and self-care. I'm off for that run I postponed indefinitely!
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