An Eye-Opening Post About Self-Care for Moms

I'm sharing #Clarifye in my life as part of a

LensCrafters sponsored series for Socialstars.#ad

As mothers, I think we can all agree on one thing. Motherhood is incredible. It's an incredibly enriching, painfully beautiful experience raising and shaping the future. The demanding, tantrum-throwing, back-talking cuddly, precious future. A future often wrought with excessive demands and little empathy for the fulfiller of said demands- but what a sweet, beautiful, amazing future it is, am I right?  

In turn, all of this constant excessive demand-meeting creates an almost one-sided relationship in which we, the mother givers, give so much of ourselves to those around us without so much as taking time for ourselves.

This is why self-care is so important. This is why we, as mothers, need to take time to consistently care for ourselves so that we can take better care of those around us. It took me almost one and a half kids to really appreciate what self-care meant but now I'd almost consider myself an expert in the arena.  

It's worth noting that self-care looks different for everyone. For some it might be a closed door, a hot cup of coffee and a good book while the kids play safely in another room. For others it might be group exercise, going on a long solo run or busting out a quick exercise DVD in the basement. Maybe it's a haircut, something you haven't been able to fit in for months on end. Or maybe it's a night out with girlfriends.

For me, it's often taking time by myself for myself. Whether this means heading out after bedtime for a manicure or just a quiet ride around the block and the nearest Starbucks drive-thru, it's essential, imperative really, that all mothers take time for themselves. 

Remember, too, that every day needs change. Yours, your kids', your spouse's, etc. So what self-care looks like today may not be what it looks like tomorrow, or two weeks from now.  

Sometimes, like this past weekend, for instance, self-care is disguised as taking a break from some last minute Christmas shopping for the family and popping into a local LensCrafters to experience the quick and comprehensive Clarifye eye exam. Knowing that I was overdue for my annual eye exam and in dire need of a new pair of glasses, I grabbed a coffee, set down my shopping bags and took a seat at my local LensCrafters for a quick visit. 

After all, busy moms are busy and with the rare amount of time we have to ourselves, the last thing we want to do is waste it waiting in doctors' offices. No other eye exam is more precise than Clarifye which means you'll receive the initial digital measurement in about 60 seconds. Yes, that quick!

LensCrafters provides the highest standards in eye care, eye wear and service. I would know, after all, I've been using them since I was a little girl. In fact, they fitted me for my very second pair of glasses, a large round red-rimmed pair very similar to Sally Jesse Rafael's. Talk about dating myself... 

Completely underestimating the mall scene during the last shopping weekend before Christmas, it literally took me longer to find a parking space than it did to have my eyes examined, see a doctor, browse the enormous selection of frames, select one and be fitted for a brand new pair of eye glasses. LensCrafters makes it easy to take time for myself and still make time for others in my day.  

As you can see, I've got a lot of years of reading bedtime stories ahead of me which means I've got to take care of the only set of eyes I'm going to have in this lifetime. If this means I'm able to see better, feel better and take better care of my family, it's worth every minute.

Tell me, how diligent are you about carving out time for yourself? Moreover, what does that time often look like? I'd love to know!