Before having a child, you are someone who takes good care of how you look, your style and your health. You are clear on what needs to be completed at the end of the day or even in a week. However, things change after having a child. Your memory seems to be failing you and at the end of the day, you wonder about what you have been doing all day long.
Lack of time VS Forgetfulness! Here are 10 things that a mum would forget to do! Have a good laugh!
Appointments – Did you schedule an appointment to meet the paediatrician and forget about it? Or did you date your best friend out for dinner and forget the time? Too often, little details like the day and time of appointments seems to slip out of your mind.
Tip: Record details of appointment on your mobile phone. Download apps like Google Calender or Jorte and set a few reminders prior to the event. You can also print out a monthly Calender and paste it on the fridge to serve as a reminder. Write down the details of various tasks and events on the calender. Seeing is believing. It will be hard to miss out on important events.
Personal hygiene – When was the last time you visited the hair salon to trim your mane or to the dentist for your regular dental check? And to your horror, when was the last time you shaved?
Tip: Caring for your baby seems to have taken up a big bulk of your life and you find it difficult to find time for personal grooming. Leave your baby with your spouse or extended family while you head off for your personal grooming session.
Rest – How many hours of sleep are you having every night? On a good day, probably 7 hours, and on most days, probably just 4 to 5 hours? This is a serious issue! The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends seven to eight hours of undisturbed rest every night. A lack of sleep can attribute to stress and a higher mortality rate.
Tip: Leave all unfinished tasks to the next day, don’t struggle to finish the tasks till the wee hours of the morning. If you can’t get a good 7 to 8 hours of undisturbed rest, attempted to take a power nap when your child is resting too.
Eat – Skipping meals seem to be a common problem for mums! You are caught up with putting your child to bed, feeding them, entertaining them, preparing them for school and the list goes on. So, when was the last time you had your meal? When you get caught up with caring for the baby, you might forget to take your meals regularly.
Tip: This is pretty common among new parents. To save time but not compromise on your health, print out simple but nutritious recipes that you can prepare within 30 minutes. Eat your meals while your baby is occupied with her favourite toys or books.
Turn off the stove – You are busy preparing dinner for the family and when the phone rings and the baby cries, you might forget that you have been cooking all along. The next thing you know is you have forgotten to turn off the stove!
Tip: This could be dangerous, you might actually burn the kitchen or the house down. Always double check and set timer/alarm to remind yourself that you are cooking.
Exercise – When was the last time you work out? NEVER? How are you supposed to find time to work out when you can’t even take a proper bath without being disturbed?
Tip: If you can’t squeeze out a little time to head out for yoga or a jog alone, why not try to include your child in your exercise regime? Workouts can be bonding time with the child too. You can jog with your child in a jogging stroller or create a jungle gym in your house and you can both have a rough and tumble play. Keep your options open and be creative!
Pay bills – You get too occupied with things that you tend to leave your mails at the corner of the house and only open up the letters when you finally recalled the possible due dates for credit cards, mobile phones and utility bills.
Tip: Come out with a to-do-list and prioritise them. Place it in a prominent place like the fridge or cupboard and make it a point to check the list on a daily basis.
Breathe – You probably woke up with a list of things that need to be completed today – pay the bills, finish your household chores, walk the dog, send the clothes for dry cleaning, prepare the meals and the list goes on. As a mum, sometimes we seem to take it all in our stride and when things get out of hand, we feel like we are falling apart.
Tip: Take a step back and breathe. You are not a robot nor a superhero. Sometimes when you feel like there’s too much to do, share your responsibilities with your spouse or family. Confide in a friend who is a mom and share your thoughts. It will be perfect if you can exchange tips on how to manage the family within your means.
Play with your child – Amidst all the chaos, don’t forget to have fun with your child. Your child is only young once, give them a childhood worth remembering for the rest of their life!
Tip: Bring out all the costumes and have a fun role-play session with them or head out to the park and have an exciting time chasing your child or cycle.
By Crystal Tan
