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10 Life Lessons I Learned Participating in a Pioneer Trek

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Last week, our family participated in a pioneer trek with our church group.

I don’t talk much about religion on the blog, because it really doesn’t have anything to do with the topics I write about.

But just for this post, I’ll let you know that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (otherwise known as mormons).

The church has a deep love of their pioneer history and the sacrifices their ancestors made to get the church where it is today and to settle the western United States.

our family for trek

So, every 4 years, youth and their leaders in our Four Corners area get together and participate in a pioneer trek reenactment. This involves dressing up in pioneer clothing, pushing your limited belongings in a handcart, sleeping under a tarp on the ground at night, rigorous exercise some of the time, and no internet or phones.

During trek, the kids were separated into groups of 12-15 kids and a Ma & Pa to lead them. My husband was on the medical staff and I was in charge of the photography.

The trek was high up in the mountains of Colorado, around 9000 ft. elevation. Even though we live at 6500 ft, it is still harder to exercise the higher you go up.

I am sharing this experience with you so that I can let you in on what I learned on our 4 day trek and how it applies to our lives and homestead.

handcart with stuff in it

10 Life Lessons I Learned Participating in a Pioneer Trek

1. The less stuff you have, the better

When you have to carry everything you own in a handcart, you want to own less. This made sense for the handcart pioneers because most of them left almost all of their possessions behind to travel west.

I have learned that most of us can really live with much less than what we currently own. When we lost almost all of our belongings in our house fire 5 years ago, we quickly realized what our prized possessions were and what we didn’t even miss after it was gone.

For trek, the kids were asked to bring a sleeping bag, coat, tarp, 1 change of pioneer clothing (and shoes) and some other small toiletries. Enough for only 1 5 gallon bucket and a trash bag.

Of course, the trek was only for 4 days, so they could leave the rest of their stuff at home. They had everything they needed and it really wasn’t much. They made due and it made them appreciate all they had when they got home.

But in general, I think we have way more possessions than we need and pairing down would make our lives easier. I discuss cleaning and decluttering our home in this post —> Decluttering Our Home: Some KonMari, Some Homesteaders Anonymous.

2. A good sleeping bag is important

Sleeping on the ground is no joke, but these kids did a great job at it. The difference between those that slept well and those that didn’t came down to one thing: the quality of their sleeping bag.

It was in the 40’s at night in the mountains, but those with warm sleeping bags were snug and comfy (even hot) all night long. So while I like to get great deals on everything (including camping stuff), don’t skimp on sleeping bags.

3. I really like to be clean

I kinda knew this already, but it really hit home to me. We didn’t get a shower until the 4th day, when we got home.

I was feeling so grimy and gross by then, I was about to lose it.

I don’t mind dirt under my nails when I’m gardening or working outside, but I like to get cleaned up at the end of the day. I missed that so much on the trail.

The actually pioneers washed themselves in the streams or other water sources on the way, but I would guess it wasn’t every day. And as they say, cleanliness is next to godliness.

scenic mountain overlook

4. Helping your neighbor allows you to forget your own problems

There were several really steep hills the kids pulled their handcarts up and over. It was amazing to watch.

Not only did they help their family climb the hill, but when they were done many of the kids went back to help other families climb the hill as well.

They were able to push past their own fatigue and pain to help others reach the top. And they felt a sense of accomplishment for having gone back and helped others when they were tired themselves.

5. Real relationships are invaluable

Many teenagers “these days” have just as many (or more) online relationships than they do real, in person relationships.

But this week, they saw the value of speaking, working, laughing and crying with people in real life. I know they will cherish the friendships they made for a long time.

You wouldn’t think that you could be so close to people you have only known for 4 days, but when you go thru hard things together it bonds you in a way that nothing else can. I am glad they got to learn the power of real friendships and hope that they will stay in touch with their pioneer families.

6. We can do hard things

The whole motto of the trek and the reason the trek was created is to teach the kids (and adults) that they can do hard things.

We shouldn’t shrink from a task just because we think it might be too hard.

I saw kids and adults accomplish things on trek that they thought were impossible. And now they know that just because something is hard doesn’t mean it can’t be done.

7. Weather was life or death with the pioneers

In our modern society, we have lots of protection from the weather. Not so for the pioneers.

Our leaders were constantly watching the weather and planning for what might be in store. For the most part, we had really great weather for this trek. It did hail on us on the last day, but it was only for a few minutes.

The pioneers were stuck out in the weather, with nowhere to go. An early snow storm or rain storms could put them in a precarious spot.

I am thankful for modern weather forecasting and for the leaders that kept us safe during the trek.

pioneer boy with sunglasses

8. Little miracles make life sweet

At home, we may go several days or weeks without seeing a miracle in our lives. We have our heads down, getting done what needs to be done. We may even be too distracted with technology to look around and see what’s going on.

On the trek, I saw many small little miracles. Things that I might have missed if I was looking at my phone or watching tv.

By being more intentional in our lives, we can see God’s hand in everything. And those little miracles make life so sweet.

9. I never want to live off grid

I know that many homesteaders live off grid or hope to do so one day. After this trek, I know for sure that is not something I want to do.

I have gained skills (like cooking over a fire, butchering animals, and growing my own food) that would help me in an emergency situation. In fact, emergency preparedness is one of the main reasons I started looking into homesteading in the first place.

But I prefer to be a modern homesteader. This means using modern conveniences such as running water, electricity and the internet to reach my homesteading goals.

If I had to, I could live off grid. But it won’t be by choice.

10. Aprons must have pockets

I only usually wear an apron when cooking, so I have everything I need nearby.

But this week, the apron was part of our pioneer outfit, and I actually found it useful. And having the extra pockets was a great help.

I carried chapstick, sunscreen, snacks and more in my apron pockets everyday. If I ever need an apron again, it will have pockets!

If you would like to make a simple apron, check out these fun tutorials (and add pockets if needed!) —> 13 Cute Free DIY Apron Pattern Tutorials for Beginners.

This Pioneer Trek was really life changing for our whole family.

We learned skills, met great people and pushed ourselves out of our comfort zone.

These 10 life lessons are just a few things we learned on trek, and we can’t wait to go again sometime!

pioneer trek pin

Have you participated in a pioneer trek or reenactment? Let us know in the comments below. And if you found this post helpful, please share. Thanks!

18 Easy Dutch Oven Recipes For Family Camping

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Our family loves to camp. We have several camping trips every year and it is such a great thing to unplug and enjoy our family without modern distractions.

We used to tent camp (for years). In fact, my middle son starting camping at 4 months old (he was born in February).

About 6 years ago, we bought a RV so that we can camp more months out of the year in Colorado. It also helps us keep all of our camping stuff in one spot, which allows us to go without much planning.

One of the best things about camping is the food, am I right?

My husband has a big scouting background, and loves to make dutch oven recipes. He likes to use recipes off of Pinterest and make his own creations as well.

So here are some of our family favorites that we have tried and some that just look good and we want to try in the future.

dutch oven chili

18 Easy Dutch Oven Recipes For Family Camping

Breakfast Recipes:

Mountain Man Breakfast Recipe @ Lodge Cast Iron

Devin’s Dutch Oven Cinnamon Roll @ Favorite Family Recipes

Dinner Recipes:

Dutch Oven Campfire Lasagna @ Fresh Off The Grid

Dutch Oven Roasted Chicken @ Self Proclaimed Foodie

Dutch Oven Braised Beef and Summer Vegetables @ My Recipes

BBQ Dutch Oven Chicken and Potatoes Recipe @ Clarks Condensed

Dutch Oven Ravioli @ 50 Campfires

Dutch Oven Spaghetti @ Fabulously Frugal

Dutch Oven Chicken & Sausage @ Favorite Family Recipes

Easy Dutch Oven Potatoes @ Camp Chef

Campfire Dutch Oven Jumbalaya @ Road Trip Republic

Dutch Oven Mac & Cheese @ Fresh Off The Grid

Dutch Oven Root Beer Chicken @ Garden Seeds and Honey Bees

Easy Chicken and Dumplings @ Easy Campfire Recipes

Dessert Recipes:

Campfire Dutch Oven Berry Cobbler @ Family Spice

Chocolate Lava Dutch Oven Cakes @ Camping for Foodies

Dutch Oven Banana Bread @ Fresh Off the Grid

Dutch Oven Pumpkin Pie @ Self Reliant School

Are you new to dutch oven cooking? Here are some of my recommendations to get started:

Don’t these easy dutch oven recipes look amazing?

It makes me want to hop in the RV and go camping right away.

I want to also remind you that you don’t HAVE to camp in the forest to enjoy these recipes. You can set these up over a fire in your backyard or even in a home dutch oven in your kitchen.

So try a few of these recipes on your next camping trip! You won’t regret it!

dutch oven recipes pin

What are your favorite easy dutch oven recipes? Let us know in the comments below. And if you found this post helpful, please share. Thanks!

5 Easy Steps to Real Food Meal Planning

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It’s five o’clock and your family has started asking you, “What’s for dinner?”

Do you dread this question? You are busy taking care of kids, animals and the house all day. Dinner time rolls around and you become panicked because you aren’t sure what to feed your family. You don’t have a plan!

Today I would like to help you find a way to make a meal plan that works for you. I want you to be able to plan and prepare healthy meals for your family everyday. Life is easier when you have a plan!

5 Easy Steps to Real Food Meal Planning

First of all, I want to say that I didn’t come up with this plan on my own. I researched and tried many different meal plan ideas on blogs and in books before I came across this one that works for my family.

There are meal planning solutions all over Pinterest, from chalkboards to whiteboards to binders. You can check out this board for more meal planning ideas. I found printable meal planning labels here and it has been a lifesaver!

photo of printed magnets and scissors

1. Getting Started

The hardest part of this system is getting started. You will need a few materials, which you can of course modify to fit your own ideas and budget. Here are the things you will need for this project:

Magnetic White Board

Magnetic Printable Sheets

You can either type your meals or print them on the magnets.

Once you have these materials (or something like them), you move to the next step. . .

2. Make A List

What are the go to dinners that your family loves? For this plan to work, you need to come up with 14 dinner meals that you family loves to eat and you know how to make.

In the beginning, I would not choose random recipes that you saw on Pinterest with weird ingredients or long instructions. I want you to choose meals that you are familiar with and that you family likes.

You can theme your meals if you would like. Some people think it is easier to have a mexican night, italian night, chicken night, beef night, pizza night, etc. If that works for you, great!

Once you have made a list of 14 meals your family loves, then make a grocery list for those meals. You want a list just for these meals. That way if your are in a rush for the store one week, you can grab this list and you know you will have all of the ingredients for two weeks of meals ready to go.

photo of a white board with magnets

3. Check your Calendar

The next step is to get out your calendar and fill in the days for this month.

Check your schedule for the events that are going on this month. Do you have a potluck at church, or are you going to be out of town for a few days? Fill in those days first so you know which days you actually have to plan a dinner for your family.

Fill in the days you are going to be cooking dinner with your 14 meals. You may try to have a leftovers night once every week or two weeks. Maybe pick a night that you know you aren’t going have time to make dinner because your kids have a sporting event or school play or whatever.

If you feel like your family might have a problem with eating the same 14 meals every 2 weeks, then add one new meal each 2 week rotation. If they really like that meal, you might want to substitute it for a regular meal the next month.

The list should be flexible, but predictable enough that there are mostly meals that you could make without thinking very much about it. After you finish using your magnets, you can rearrange them again to fill in the rest of the month.

4. Grocery Tips

Shop your pantry and garden before you go to the store

Check and see what you have on hand before you make your grocery list. You have to know what you have on hand so you can save money by using those things first.

Shop the sales

Check the sales flyers of the store you are grocery shopping at and see if they have something on sale that you need for your list. If it is a good sale, you might want to stock up on it now and use it in future weeks.

Combine like items together

If you need ground beef in 3 meals, buy a 3 pound package (or how ever much you need) and split it up later. Usually bigger packages of meat are cheaper by the pound. You can do this for veggies and other things to.

Don’t forget the little things like seasonings and side dishes

If you are going to be making these meals twice a month, it might be a good idea to stock up on larger bottles of seasoning to save money. Don’t forget to plan a side dish (or 2) to go with your main dish.

photo of meal planning white board calendar

5. Meal Tips and Tricks

Keep your 14 meals list and your grocery list somewhere you can access it often. This could be on your computer where you can print it out, or in a binder if you prefer it that way. You just need to be able to copy it for the next time you go to the grocery store.

Substitute things from your pantry or garden to use what you have first. That could be the meat from hunting, produce from the garden or something that you stocked up on that was on sale last month at the grocery store.

Look at your meal plan calendar the night before and check to see if you need to thaw something for tomorrow’s meal. If you do, put it the refrigerator then so it will be thawed the next afternoon.

To save time, you can batch cook your meat ahead of time so that it cooks faster at meal time. You can also chop veggies at one sitting for the whole week and put them in the fridge for fast prep work later.

Freezer meals are amazing for meal plans. You can take a Saturday to make 8 freezer meals and then you have meals that are ready to throw in the crock pot on busy days. No Cook Freezer Meals by Kelly McNelis @ www.newleafwellness.biz is an awesome resource for nutritious, no cook freezer meals.

If you have an Instant Pot, it can make such a difference at meal time. If you have the ingredients ahead of time, all you have to do is pop them in the pot and you can have a warm meal in less than an hour.

Some people plan every meal-breakfast, lunch and dinner. That is up to you and how rigid you want your meal plan to be. If you have a stocked pantry of breakfast and lunch items, then you may just want to let each person make their own breakfast or lunch.

Why Is Meal Planning Worth The Time?

Each family’s meal plan is going to be different, depending on their schedule and the foods they like to eat. The main idea of meal planning is to make a list of your favorite meals. Write them on the calendar for the day they will be dinner. Make a grocery list for the week (or two if you prefer).

Have your pantry stocked with the foods you need for these meals. Check the calendar the night before to see if anything needs to be thawed. In the morning, put your meal in the crockpot or in the instant pot in the afternoon.

Enjoy your homemade, nutritious meal with your family. Be less stressed at dinner time. Spend more time with your family and doing the things that matter most to you.

real food meal planning pin

Do you have a meal planning system that works for you? Let us know in the comments below. And if you found this post helpful, please share. Thanks!

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Decluttering Our Home: Some KonMari, Some Homesteaders Anonymous

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It is spring, which means spring cleaning! Even though we still have snow on the ground, we are getting started (because I am hoping for warmer weather and because it needs it).

5 years ago this spring (April 2, 2014 to be exact) our house burned down while we were on our Spring Break vacation.

Talk about the ultimate decluttering, we did it all in one day!

If you would like to read more about the fire and the lessons we have learned from it, you can read this blog post —> When The Unthinkable Happens: Lessons From A House Fire.

Now some of you might be wondering, “If you lost everything in a house fire, why are you needing to declutter?”

We lost so many irreplaceable things in the house fire: family scrapbooks, my wedding dress, pictures, family heirlooms, old movies, etc. Those things can’t be replaced.

Oddly enough, those are the things that people have a hard time getting rid of when they start decluttering.

But there are many, many things that can be replaced after a house fire and after 5 years we are back to a cluttered state. From the generosity of friends to a mad shopping spree after our new house was built, we are almost caught up to where we were pre fire.

If you didn’t know our story, you wouldn’t be able to tell we had lost everything just 5 years ago. It’s amazing and sad at the same time.

So here we are, looking at our home and thinking we need to make it more clean and organized. We need to get rid of the stuff we don’t need anymore and organize the rest.

wastebasket with paper trash

Why is decluttering a useful task in our home:

As I said above, we haven’t felt the need to declutter much in the past 5 years because of how much we lost in the fire.

But before that, I would try to declutter our home once a year to keep the toys and clothing down (having 3 boys in 4 years can wreak havoc on a home) and anytime we moved (we moved 6 times in our first 12 years of marriage).

I feel decluttering is a useful (but maybe dreaded) task because:

  1. When you have a growing family, you can get rid of things your kids don’t wear or use after the last child grows out of it.
  2. It can help your kids see what they have to play with when they have less to choose from.
  3. It gives you more room in your home when you don’t have random junk laying around.
  4. It allows you the chance to get rid of things you don’t need or want anymore.
  5. Decluttering can help you save money by finding things you didn’t realize you had, instead of buying it over again.
  6. It gives you a better idea of what you have for insurance purposes (Lol. When your house burns down completely, you don’t have to itemize your belongings!)
  7. It allows you to bless the lives of others with items you don’t need or use anymore.

Marie Kondo and the KonMari Method of Decluttering:

In the last couple of years or so, there has been a new decluttering craze in the world called the KonMari Method by Marie Kondo. I had heard of it, but since we didn’t have alot of stuff, I didn’t pay much attention.

It all started with her book about Japanese decluttering and organizing called The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.

Then this year (2019) Marie starred in her own Netflix show (Tidying Up With Marie Kondo) where she brings the method to America and helps Americans get their homes in order.

I must admit that I was interested, since I love Netflix and I needed something new to watch this winter. I watched several episodes to get a feel for Marie and her method of decluttering.

I AM NOT AN EXPERT on this method or Marie, but here are my findings and how the show has helped us organize our lives.

tea cup on top of stack of books

What I found useful from the KonMari Method of Decluttering:

Some of Marie Kondo’s methods made sense to me and I will use them to declutter my home:

  • Does it spark joy?
  • Figure out what you want your space to be used for.
  • Tshirt folding
  • Papers: I like that there should be one designated spot for papers in the home. For us, that’s my office.

What I don’t like about the KonMari Method of Decluttering:

Not all of Marie’s methods “sparked joy” in me, so I won’t be using them in my home:

  • Not everything sparks joy, and that’s ok.
  • I won’t be thanking my belongings.
  • I won’t be putting all my clothes in a pile. I prefer to work by room than by category.
  • I won’t be meditating (or introducing myself to the house) before cleaning.
  • I won’t be throwing things outside on the lawn or driveway.
  • I won’t be thinking that this is a one and done deal. It should be a yearly practice in our home.

Homesteaders Anonymous:

So how does homesteading fit into all of this organization?

I know so many homesteaders that have a mess on their hands because they feel they should be reusing items instead of throwing them away.

They don’t want to get rid of something, for worry they might find another use for it in a month, year or ten years from now.

In fact, I just wrote a post the other day about 10 Household Items to Recycle in Your Vegetable Garden. 

How do homesteading (recycling, making do, saving for later) mesh with decluttering (minimalism, organization, getting rid of stuff)?

Well that’s up to you. It depends on how having all the stuff makes you feel.

Does having extra stuff make you feel secure and prepared or frustrated and scared?

Is that extra stuff organized so you can find and use it later?

Is your home peaceful in its current state or does it need help?

There isn’t a right or wrong. There can be a middle ground between minimalism and hoarding. In fact, most people fall somewhere in the middle.

For instance, I have clothes of different sizes. I was smaller when our house burned down 5 years ago, so when I went to shopping to replace my clothes they are all a smaller size than I wear today.

But I am on a (slow) weightloss journey, so I know I want to keep those clothes so I can wear them when I lose weight. After all, they are only 5 years old!

So what is the middle ground? Maybe take them out of my closet and box them up until I can wear them. Or separate my closet by size and slowly get rid of things as they get too big for me. Either way works. I guess it just depends on how much space you have in your closet.

If you are feeling like maybe your stuff is getting out of hand or you want to downsize to save time and money, decluttering can be a lifesaver.

Here is a photo of all the bags going to the thrift store this week:

8 bags of clothes on the living room floor

Now I know this doesn’t seem like much, but considering we lost all of our possessions in a house fire 5 years ago, I’m amazed we have this much to give away. That’s 8 bags of clothes, ready to give away. It really piles up fast.

I always feel better after I clean and declutter. The house is more relaxing and enjoyable when it is clean and organized.

Now do I think it is going to stay this way with three teenage boys? Definitely not. But I’ll enjoy it while it lasts.

decluttering pin

What can you get rid of on your homestead to bring you more peace and comfort? Let us know in the comments below. And if you found this post helpful, please share. Thanks!

13 Simple No Sugar Valentines Day Ideas For Your Child’s Classroom

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It happened to me every year. Valentine’s Day would sneak up on me!

When the kids were in elementary school, they would have a Valentine’s Day party and card exchange. I would ALWAYS forget until the day before (if I was lucky).

It’s kinda funny, because Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays that stays the same each year, so unless it fell on the weekend, I should have known better.

But there was just too much going on in my mom brain and Valentine’s Day wasn’t at the top of the list.

Also, I really didn’t want to pass out candy. I don’t mind my kids eating candy, but it gets to be overload on that day. Since I know there will be lots of sugar available, it is always nice to bring a treat that has no sugar.

So if this is you, I want to help.

I searched the internet (who are we kidding, Pinterest), and found some really cute ideas for Valentine’s Day (that you can do the day before) that don’t include a sugar filled treat.

box with pink heart on it

13 Simple No Sugar Valentines Day Ideas For Your Child’s Classroom


Applesauce Cup Valentine’s Day Free Printable @ Savoring the Good


Nacho Average Valentines @ Skip to My Lou


You Light Up My Life @ Eighteen 25


Owl + Crazy Straw Valentines Cards @ Happiness is Homemade


Bullseye Valentines With Pencil Arrows @ Positively Splendid


Hope You Have a Ball Valentine Printables @ Somewhat Simple


Dollar Store Bubble Valentine Printable @ Our Home Made Easy


Make Your Own Valentine Necklace @ Non Toy Gifts


Lip Valentines Printable @ Persia Lou


Sunglasses Valentines Day Cards @ Where the Smiles Have Been


Crazy Straw Valentines @ Simplistically Living


Crayons Valentines Day Cards @ The Taylor House


Heart Pencil Toppers Craft @ The Best Ideas for Kids

Don’t those just look so cute! Some people are so creative. And since that isn’t me, I love that I can find great ideas on Pinterest in a matter of minutes.

I hope this post helped you find a Valentine’s Day treat for your child’s classroom that is cute, easy and not sugary. That’s a triple win!

What treats do you like to send with your kids on Valentine’s Day? Let us know in the comments below. And if you found this post helpful, please share. Thanks!

Why Healthy Self Care Is Important For Women

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Self care is a topic that I always thought was a little “woo-woo”. A little too indulgent for a mother of three boys.

I didn’t have time to go to the spa or away for a girls weekend. Maybe one day. . .

Fast forward 10 years and now I am the mother of three teenage boys (17, 15, 13) and I am looking at the future with tear filled eyes. Soon they will be out of our house and on with their own lives.

I often look back and wonder if I could have been a better mother if I had taken the time to take care of myself.

Those first years (with 3 boys under 4) were really hard. Sleepless nights, constant activity during the day and all that noise! It was crazy.

So I am writing this as a person that is starting to make self care a priority. I should have done it much sooner.

How do I define self care?

Self care is simply taking care of your own needs without guilt. It doesn’t mean you don’t take care of others.

It just means that you realize your health and wellbeing is just as important as others in your life.

Why is self care important?

Women (and mothers especially) tend to always put others first in their priorities and time management.

This is a great quality and should not be diminished.

But taking time to make self care a part of your routine can allow you to stay healthy and sane so that you can take care of others around you.

For so long, I didn’t take care of my health because I felt dieting or working out was taking away from my kids and family. I knew that wasn’t true, but I always put things off to “some day” when the kids were grown.

I would always feel guilty for taking a day for me, even when I was a stay at home mom that was with my kids 24/7 on most days. Mom guilt (for those that work inside or outside of the home) is real and can keep you from taking time for yourself.

How do I make time for self care?

Making time for self care doesn’t mean you abandon your family. It doesn’t mean you don’t care about them.

Making time for self care means you realize that you are your best when you feel good and healthy. You feel and act more patient and understanding with your family when you take care of yourself too.

If you have little ones around, time for self care is limited. But that doesn’t mean it is gone all together. A little break can go along way (and I’m not talking about hiding in the bathroom!).

two women walking and talking together

10 Ideas for healthy self care that don’t take much time:

  1. Taking a shower uninterrupted.
  2. Painting your toenails.
  3. Eating healthy.
  4. Watching your favorite tv show after the kids go to bed.
  5. Relax in your garden and enjoy what you have accomplished.
  6. Listening to music you love (and maybe have a dance party).
  7. Go for a walk.
  8. Getting dressed and ready for the day.
  9. Reading a new book.
  10. Call a loved one you haven’t spoken to in awhile.

10 Ideas for healthy self care that might take extra planning (but are necessary):

  1. Date night with your husband.
  2. Yearly physical.
  3. Going to the dentist (atleast once a year, twice is better).
  4. Exercise.
  5. Girls night out with your mom friends.
  6. Shopping (by yourself or with a friend).
  7. A weekend getaway or anniversary trip.
  8. Lunch with a friend.
  9. Learn a new skill (photography, painting, gardening, etc).
  10. Go to a museum or movie with a friend.

Self care may seem indulgent and unnecessary. But it isn’t, believe me.

If you are a mother of young children, your kids take everything you’ve got. That is natural and normal.

But one day they will grow up and you might just wonder what happened to you.

Maybe you’re overweight because you ate your feelings and frustrations.

Maybe you and your husband are strangers because all you ever did was worry and fuss over the kids.

Maybe you don’t have any friends because you never took time to talk or spend time with them.

You can be a good mother and still take a few minutes a day for yourself (see the first idea list).

You can be a good mother and leave your children or family for a few hours or days (see the second idea list).

The things on both of these idea lists can recharge your batteries so that you can be a better version of you; the mom, wife and friend you want to be.

I’m not saying that you need to go to the spa or travel Europe to practice self care. In this case, a little goes a long way.

So if you don’t have much time, make it count. I’ve been there. I understand. And I wish I had done this sooner in my life. It can make all the difference.

healthy self care pin

How do you practice healthy self care in your life? Let us know in the comments below. And if you found this post helpful, please share. Thanks!

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