I have made myself a kind of yearly "to do" list. I want to be sure I look back at the end of each year and find I did something for me! In past years I learned to play piano, took drawing classes, attended the theater with friends, made sure to hit every art gallery in Milwaukee, attended a hockey game...etc. I try to makes sure I can do most things in a few hours so it is enough of a break.

Moms, it's super important to take care of you and seek out support to do that! If you break down, the whole world will break for your family. It IS that important! I neglected my health for the longest time and had some tragic things occur as a result. That is why I'm really stressing the importance of this! :)

It's not really taking care of me, but it relaxs me. I read. I read for fun, not to research stuff. I read to escape the day to day blahs or worries. When the house is quiet & I sit in my chair to read, often my cat curls up in my lap.

Before life got so crazy & stressed (this time around), I was taking walks after I took my son to preschool. I was finding these walking paths around town & just going by myself. It was so relaxing. I need to remind myself to get back to that!

A lawn chair, a glass, a bottle of wine, and plop down on the cliffs overlooking the ocean at sunset. Nearest ocean is 1700 miles away? Then a couple hours of playing soccer with guys half my age. In either case the physical pain the next day completely clears my head of all parental anxieties, and shifts the perspective, which is all that's needed sometimes.