Strength to Take Care of Others- Resolve to Care for Yourself

I don't know how many blog posts I have read and discussion I have had about moms putting themselves second and doing what is best for them, but not for themselves. Some people were talking about the need to be number one in their lives and putting everyone else second. I cringed when I read about how the best in life should be theirs and their family comes only after all the things that need are done. Others were talking about taking care of themselves so they could take care of others. Those posts left me thinking.

Last week just before church I sat in my usual pew beside JDaniel4 and JDaniel3 thinking about what I want to write about this week. I sat and thought about all the changes that will take place this year. (JDaniel starting kindergarten, my going back to work, etc..) Those long days of play, doing housework whenever it fit into the day, and running errands during days that may be filled with different things. Those things will still need to be done but, they may have to be scheduled a little more.

There are other things that even with long mostly free days that don't always get done. I have been terrible at doing my Bible reading and exercising. They just haven't been set as a priority. When I get a free minute, I blog or work on a project or watch t.v.  This year I am going to need strength to get through longer and more challenging days. Yes, there have been challenging days being at home. Toilet training days and testing mom to see if she really means what she says days have been challenging, but they lacked outside pressures.

How am I going to work on having the strength to take care of others in my life?

• Time with God
• Exercise
• Communicating with Others (Friends, Family, and More)
• Eating Right

I need to start the morning by reading God's word and praying instead of social media. Most mornings I get up before my guys and schedule my Facebook and Twitter posts. I add my latest post to Pinterest, Google +, link ups, and several other places. I really need to start my day by connecting with God. During the last year I would try to have a devotional time right before bed and I would fall asleep.

Exercise has to become a priority. I am a forty eight year old mom of a preschooler. If my muscles are not challenged to get stronger, they will prevent me from keeping up with a boy who can now almost outrun me. I would love to say that I was going to use my gym membership more. I really need to use it. I think I will have to start by exercising at home and in our neighborhood. JDaniel has to strengthen his core for swimming. I so need to exercise along with him.

I realized when I wrote Christmas cards that the cards I was writing were the first communication that I had had with friends all year. Before I got married I had the most amazing friends that lived near by and that I saw them often. When I moved to South Carolina, I did a terrible job of keeping up with them. This year I need to be better at knowing what is going on with their lives. Talking with friends can help me feel stronger emotionally and mentally.
My diet needs to improve too. The most nutritionally  balanced meal I eat is dinner. I fix dinners for my family that include all the food groups. Lunch is usually pretty good too. I eat lunch with JDaniel. I don't always eat enough fruits and vegetables then though. JDaniel does. I make sure of that. I guess I should eat what he is eating. Breakfast is on the run. I tend to work on blog stuff while JDaniel eats breakfast and I grab something during the morning. Again I probably need to eat what JDaniel is eating while he is eating it.  Eating what I am feeding  JDaniel should be a goal for the year. 
While I know people have been writing about these goals and resolution for ages, they are the things that I need to work on most. I so want to them to have the strength to take of myself and others.