Coffee with Sims|Self Care

Hello Mama! Do you need a minute?

If I were to be honest, there are times when every other hour of the day I feel like I need a minute. I feel like I need a minute away from my marriage. I feel like I need a minute away from my child. I feel like I need a minute away from my family. And even my friends sometimes.

And you know what? That is totally F I N E!

I give so much to other people that I tend to forget to give myself grace. I am always the person to fill everyone else’s cup am always the one checking on everyone. I am always the one who is worried about everyone else’s well-being. 

What about my peace of mind? What about my well-being? Who is thinking about Simmy and her needs?

That why it is so important to take a step back, even if it is a few minutes, and take some time out of the day for yourself. You can’t pour for an empty cup, you have to learn to take care of yourself.

I never really had to think about setting time aside for myself before I had Ash, because I just had to worry about me. After having a baby, I quickly realized that I was going to have to take some time for me and learn to live with my new norm.

Soon after I had Ash, I dealt with postpartum depression and it was not fun at all. I even took it to the point where I had medication to help me with it. The medication caused anxiety; I was feening for the meds. I immediately stopped the medication and that is when I realized it was time to learn to take care of myself.

I began waking up anywhere from 1-2 hours before Ash and my husband. I took that time to pray, start working out again, shower, and grab a cup of Joe before the other two loves of my life woke up!

 I smile as I write that, because if I’m being 100% real and transparent with y’all. I love taking care of them and I wouldn’t have it any other way, even though it gets hectic.

Anyways, I made sure to try to get a little piece of me back. I dived into my blog and social media channels. I applied to be a part of the Dallas Fitness Ambassadors and I got in. I surrounded myself around people that had similar interest and that was my easy way of making friends, staying social. I made plans with my friends and boy was life occupied.

That was how I took care of myself. My mental health. I was really losing it at one point and it is scary to think about sometimes. It is even hard for me to revisit the whole postpartum depression I experienced.

I learned that you are the only one who is really going to take care of you! It is so pertinent to take time out of your day to fill yourself up. I just don’t know how else to scream it to Mama’s out there. I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t incorporate self-care into my daily routine.

Oh and disclaimer.

Before you think of me anyhow, I need you to know that my son is the reason I breathe. He’s the reason I smile. He’s the reason I go after my goals. He’s the

reason that I am the person I am today. If it wasn’t for Ashraf where would I be?

Man, I never though I would love a person as I love that little boy.

I feel as though mothers, we want to give our all to our children. It is just so easy to feel guilty when you want to step away and take care of yourself. It is just so easy to blame yourself that you are not doing enough.

As a mom, there are plenty of times when I feel overwhelmed and feel like I can’t catch a break. That’s why I use my platform to show other Mama’s that it is okay to set aside some time to take care of yourself. We deserve to show ourselves some love, because when you take care of yourself inside and out it shows.

That’s why I am beyond excited to share with you guys that  The Black Mom Collective is hosting their first ever community collective challenge in honor of BIPOC Mental Health Month. This challenge is all about providing knowledge and a space for Black mothers to learn how to take the necessary time out of their day to prioritize THEMSELVES. They are going to be showing us how to incorporate self-care into our routine. I myself even get so lost in life that I forget, so I am excited this challenge.

The challenge starts tomorrow, July 27, 2020, and you can sign up here.

Make sure to joint he Facebook group and connect with other Mama’s!  The Black Mom Collective Facebook Group

Remember Mama, every day is a chance to show yourself some love, so that you can give it back 10x over to your loved ones

When’s the last time you did something for you? Are you pouring fro an empty cup?

Ciao!