Written by Kylie Taylor
Something I hear when talking to mums is that they will always put their kids first. Mums want the best for their kids and will go above and beyond to make sure they have every opportunity available.
And what that usually looks like is mum not always getting what she needs. Looking after mum often takes a back seat to looking after the kids, and it’s one reason why so many mums struggle with maintaining a healthy weight, having plenty of energy and overall feeling great.
It doesn’t have to be that way. Looking after yourself IS putting your kids first. Lets look at five ways this is proven to be true.
Kids, especially little ones, learn how the world works from their parents, especially their mum. We’ve all heard the saying, “Monkey See, Monkey Do”, and this is so true for kids. They will emulate you in so many ways, taking on your habits and rituals, be they good or bad.
So showing your kids that regular exercise, cooking healthy meals, getting enough sleep are all things that we do, teaches them to be vibrant happy kids and later on, vibrant happy adults. Showing your kids how to do these things is the best way to put their most important need, that of learning, first.
Kids take a lot of energy, I don’t have to mums this. If you want them to have the best experiences, you need to be able to keep up with them. So many mums struggle with fatigue and an overall lack of stamina, and that means they CANT be all the places their kids want them to be and do all the things their kids want them to do.
Taking a small window time each week to ensure you have the energy and fitness to keep up with your kids is putting them FIRST.
I think it’s fair to say that mums will battle on through sickness to take care of their kids, but lets be real for a moment; How well can you take care of your kids when you’re down with colds and flu? I think if you’re honest, you recognise that while you will soldier on, you’re not at your best.
Taking care of your own health and well being always means you have a better immune system, and that in turn means you get sick much less easily, and you can be at your best for your kids.
I’ve had a personal touch with this idea; Once a young lady of about 16 years of age confided in me that she was sad at the thought of her father passing away before she got married, as she wanted him to walk her down the isle. Her father was overweight, diabetic and very unhealthy.
It’s a little morbid to think about, but most mums agree they NEVER stop being a mum to their kids. So you want to be around for a long time so if they need you, you can help, right? The stats don’t lie, the more overweight you are, the more sedentary your lifestyle is, the sooner you are going to die. So think about your kids, and make sure you’re as healthy as you can be, so you’re around for when they need you.
This ones a big one; Stress kills people, it kills relationships, it kills the mood. It’s a killer all around, and it’s epidemic in modern society.Did you know that exercise reduces the overall stress load you suffer? If you’re stressed, you’re probably yelling at the kids more than you need to, and your stress is flowing onto them, making the challenging things they are dealing with even more so.
So really, if you want to put your kids first, you need to make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep the stress levels down, right?
Okay, so now you realise how important for your kids well being it is that you be fit, healthy, vibrant and confident. What change can you implement TODAY to work towards that worthy goal?