Five reasons you should have a mum’s day out

Your life shouldn’t necessarily revolve around parenting. As harsh as that may sound, it’s the truth and a necessary wake up call to all mums out there. 

It’s common for parents to get lost in the world of parenting and in the end, they lose themselves as individuals. 

Dads often have some leeway to kick it with the boys but for moms, it’s a different story. There’s this assumption that mums always have to be watchdogs all their lives and that they should feel guilty for needing a mum’s day off. 

For some mums being away from their kids causes serious separation anxiety and the last thing they’d want is to be away from their children.

Either way, it’s 100% okay to have a mum’s day out and don’t feel guilty about it because of the following reasons. 

1. You deserve it

Needing a day off from your kids should not be something to feel bad about. You know you’ve been doing your best every day and handling everything you should. Your kids love you and everyone thinks you are a doting mother. So why should you feel bad for wanting some time out? You deserve a break from the cleaning, cooking and everything else. Even if you have some extra help around the house, you still need a break once in a while. We all know how crazy it can get with kids.

2. It strengthens the family bond

We often take people for granted when we’re used to seeing each other every day. Children might not realize how much work goes into making sure everything is perfect and they need to learn how to appreciate mum more. This will also allow your partner to see what mum duties are like and they will appreciate and understand you more.

3. It’s an integral part of your mental health

Parenting can take a toll on your mental and emotional health. You need to remember that you’re human and you can’t avoid feeling overwhelmed. Your happiness matters too and you need such days to unwind so you can resume your parenting duties with a fresh perspective. Go shopping or catch up with your friends over lunch. I’m sure they’ve missed you.

4. You need to rediscover yourself

I’ve mentioned that parents sometimes lose themselves to a point where they don’t really know who they are, separate from their kids. Your life can’t be fully fulfilling if you lose your self-identity. This might seem like a small problem but it causes a lot of snags even in your relationship with your partner. You need to reflect on who you were even before you had kids and appreciate how much you’ve grown as a person since then. Such moments are important for every parent.

5. Your kids need space too

You’re not the only one who needs space because your children need their independence sometimes. A mum’s day out is part of a good parenting strategy since it allows your children to grow. You have to ignore that separation anxiety because even the clingy kids need to learn how to be happy without mom around. Anxiety will convince you that the world will end if you spend the day away from your kids only to realize that it’s the best decision you’ve ever made.

Having a day where you can enjoy yourself doesn’t make you a bad mom at all. Your happiness is a priority as well and you should practice letting go of other people’s expectations.

For a successful day out you should plan ahead of time to prevent any disappointments. Let their aunt, grandparents or the babysitter know ahead of time that you need them to watch the kids on a specific day. 

So, go on and have that much needed drink with a girlfriend or a spa date with your sister.?