Have you ever heard the line 'Being a mother is like having two full time jobs'?  Not to mention the jobs a big portion of us have outside the home these days.  It is one of Dr Phil's commonly quoted lines.... not that I sit around all day watching the Dr Phil show!  Did you notice what I said just then?  I instantly felt guilty when I mentioned the mere thought of sitting down for an hour to watch some daytime television.  Why do we feel or allow others to make us feel as if we are some how doing the world or the people in our lives (husband, children, etc...) a disservice by taking some time for ourselves?

I think we are, in fact, doing exactly the opposite.  I believe that if we take time out to regenerate, relax and reinvigorate that we are passing this on to our loved ones ten fold.  I know it sounds really corny and I'm sure you have all heard this before but we really do need to love, take care of and spoil ourselves.  As mothers, wives, daughters, granddaughters, sisters and friends are we not constantly loving and taking care of other people?  That's not to say that we don't enjoy it, I certainly do and it really just comes naturally to me.  I just don't want to beat myself up when I decide to take care of 'me' for once!

As soon as I sit down and begin to take some time just for me, I instantly hear that little voice in my head telling me I should be doing one of the many jobs on that endless job list we all have.  These jobs can of course wait but somehow I almost always end up putting that list before myself.  I find the best solution to avoid this happening (for me) is to leave the house!

Have you ever been to the movies by yourself?  I find it to be such a freeing experience.  There is no one to talk to and no one to talk at you.  You get to sit back and escape into the world of the movies with a sexy leading man, (well the movies I choose have a sexy leading man!) be it for a short time.  I always come away feeling refreshed and as if I could take on the world; just two hours can have such a positive effect.  I can't even begin to tell you how good I felt after a three hour pampering package I had recently.

My point being, that as this busy world we live in just keeps on getting busier and busier, I really believe it is becoming increasingly important for this generation of women to start taking some 'me time'.  Let's lead by example and make sure our daughters and our daughter's daughters 'naturally and without thought' start to put themselves first.  When we/they can do this I believe every thing else will flow a little more easily.

To all the wonderful women and mothers of the world, let's celebrate Mother's Day this year by making a pact;  let's make everyday a day that we take the time to love each other and 'ourselves'.

Angie Holland - Beautiful Baskets