Foster Parenting, Foster Child, Foster Care Blog - Stress of Foster Care on a Marriage

Foster Care Blog

09/30/07

Stress of Foster Care on a Marriage – Caring for Yourself

Posted by : Lanette in Foster Care Blog at 02:45 pm , 394 words, 316 views
Categories: Daily Life

You have to care for yourself so you are able to continue caring for everyone else. For us moms, placing ourselves before others can be a difficult thing for us to do. You do not have to do major things. You can start as simple as you feel comfortable with, just as long as you are doing something for yourself.

Deciding you will not take phone calls concerning foster care one day of the week. This includes doctors, caseworkers, CASA workers, therapists, etc. I have occasionally even sent phone calls from school to my voicemail. If there is an emergency they will leave a message on your voicemail. This is something I had a hard time doing. I felt that I needed to be available all of the time.

Allowing yourself a therapeutic outlet (gardening, reading, walking, crafts, scrap booking, etc.) something that you enjoy but do not seem to find the time for can be a wonderful benefit. The truth is that if you allow yourself this therapeutic time you usually will feel more able to get the other stuff done.

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You need to allow yourself some quiet time without the children to do as you please and give yourself some much needed down time. I like to take a long hot bubble bath by myself without hearing “mommy” or having little ones with me. I have to occasionally sneak off to the bath tub while my baby girl is involved with something else. Granted, I do not always make it through the entire bath without her finding me.

I also enjoy occasionally lying down with my little ones for a nap while watching cartoons.

Once a month my dad takes me, my sister and my little ones out to lunch which we all really enjoy. I do have to sometimes force myself to go because everything is crazy or that it seems to be one more thing I need to do. The truth is that I feel much better after going and the girls have a ball which puts us all in a much better mood.

Please share below how you take time for yourself and your ideas.

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More reading:

Stress of Foster Care on a Marriage

Stress of Foster Care on a Marriage - Reality

1 comment

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Faith Allen [Member]

· http://hoping.adoptionblogs.com/

I do 30 minutes of yoga and meditation every night before I go to bed. I also set aside 30 minutes to take the dog for a walk or do step aerobics while watching TV at night. The better I take care of myself, the more I have to give to my family. :0)

- Faith

Permalink 09/30/07 @ 16:46