HEALTHY FAMILY
mental and physical health.”
Model independence and show the kids
that they don’t need you for everything! “You
want your daughters and sons to value their
own self-care and not feel the need to grow
into ‘people pleasers.’ Let them problem
solve, take on some additional responsibil-
ity or seek support from others,” she says.

“These are life skills.”
confidence and contentment will soar. And
that’s an example worth setting.

“Your kids will see you growing as your
own person and take pride in the fact that
their parent is well rounded, strong and inde-
pendent,” Pantoulis says. “It also helps with
the relationship between spouses/partners,
as intimacy can also suffer when parents are
feeling tapped out and frustrated.”
Set aside time for cultivating
YOUR healthy habits
Nobody thinks they have enough hours in
a day, yet if necessary you’d carve time out
of thin air to make sure your loved ones get
their needs met. Do the same for yourself.

“Start small. Pick one thing and begin there.

Maybe a daily walk, a block of time to read or
joining a gym,” Pantoulis suggests.

Be creative. Try a guided meditation app.

Rediscover an old hobby. Take a healthy
cooking class with your spouse. Sign up for
a 5K with a friend to keep each other moti-
vated and accountable. As you commit to
finding time and enjoyable ways to reflect,
recharge and restore healthy balance, your
“When mama ain’t happy,
ain’t nobody happy”
The old saying does hold true. “Mom tends
to be the center of the home,” says Panto-
ulis. “And, like a body, when the heart isn’t
healthy, the rest starts to falter.” Consider
your self-care needs the same as you would
your children’s: balancing emotional, phys-
ical, nutritional and self-expression needs.

Consider ways you can restore healthy bal-
ance, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Do a regular “check-in” with yourself, and
take inventory of your feelings. Ask yourself:
Do I feel resentful? Do I rely on autopilot to
get through my day? Am I missing out on
enjoying little things and being present in
the moment? Am I always fixating on what
I have to do next? Are guilt and obligation
my motivators for getting things done? Can
I find laughter and contentedness in my day?
Am I neglectful of my own health — sick
more often, gaining/losing weight or sleep-
ing poorly? What percentage of my day is
spent focused solely on others?
Keep that “Mother’s Day”
vibe all year
Pantoulis admits that even she sometimes
feels hypocritical in advising moms to be
more attentive to self-care, when she knows
all too well how easy it is to neglect your own
needs for the sake of others.

As a health-based writer and mom myself,
I don’t want to go overboard on advice and
add to the pressure of what you should be
doing (besides, it’s easier to give advice than
to follow it!). But I do want to give you this
reminder: In this month when we celebrate
moms, please take an opportunity to pause
and consider your own well-being, recognize
your worth and promise yourself the ongo-
ing gift of prioritizing YOU. ■
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