Mommy Day

Postpartum depression and the baby blues were never things that I had dealt with before. After having my first three kids, I had become very aware of friends and family members who struggled with it. But I never really had any issues with either.

A week before Baby B was born, Michael got a job offer that would move us from Utah to Ohio. Not only was about to have a baby, but it was a week or two into November and the holidays were coming. I decided not to worry about it too much before B came and we were done visiting and hosting family for different events that were happening.

The day after my parents left, I remember laying on my bed with B and just crying. We had all but decided to move and I was beside myself. I didn't feel like I could even function. It was horrible.

I put myself together as best I could and moved on. I packed up my family and moved across the country. We both felt strongly we should move, and I knew things would just work out.

After we had been here a few months, I realized that I still wasn't really functioning like a normal person. Michael would often come home to his family all still in their pajamas, a messy house, and dinner not even thought of. I tried doing things to help me feel motivated. I have a little business that I tried to work on. I tried to exercise every day, which is hard with four little kids there to help. I tried all different things and nothing really seemed to help.

One Sunday, I was in the mother's room feeding B and talking to another mom. I told her a little bit about my Baby Blues. B was 6 months old and I just didn't feel like things were getting any better. She suggested I have a Mommy Day! She said to ask a young woman from church to come baby sit once a week. Then I can go shopping, run errands, etc... That same day, I talked to a girl at church and every Tuesday since has been Mommy Day.

It isn't the only reason that I am doing better, I've also continued to exercise, have turned off the T.V., forced myself to get dressed, etc... But let me tell you, I LOVE Tuesdays! D comes at noon every Tuesday and stays for a couple hours while I go do whatever I want. I usually take myself out to lunch and have discovered I love going out to eat by myself. Sometimes I go shopping for clothes, sometimes for groceries. Sometimes I go with a friend, and sometimes I go by myself. Sometimes I have things I need to get done. And sometimes I just waste some time being out. No matter what I do, it is the shot in the arm that I need to get through another week.

Not only do I love Mommy Days, but my kids do too! They are always ecstatic to hear that Mommy is leaving so D can come play. I think they get sick of me and need something different as well.

I am learning that in order to take care of my kids, I first need to take care of myself. And sometimes that means leaving my kids for an hour or two, and there is nothing wrong with that.