Mother Nurture Month: Maintaining Mother Nurture & Contest

Perhaps you remember the 70's commercial that featured the line "It's not nice to fool mother nature." (If not, you can watch it here.) As we wrap up our Mother Nurture series, I'd like to suggest it's not nice to fool mother nurture, either.

Let's face it. We're often juggling home, work, husbands, children, and so on. And, while I wouldn't trade my family for anything, it gets draining at times. The moments I can steal to read a book, enjoy a quiet bath, or go to the store solo help me to recharge. I've come to appreciate those moments, and I won't feel guilty or apologize for taking them. Sacrificing my mother nurture moments wouldn't fool anyone.

In honor of Mother's Day, I am giving away a Mother Nurture Prize Pack that includes 6 books, two bracelets (from QVC), and other small goodies for one lucky reader and her friend to enjoy. To enter, send an email to info[at]mommyforward.com with "Contest" in the subject line. All entries must be received by 11:59 PM EST on Thursday May 5. Because of the weight of the package, I must limit this contest to US residents only. Thanks for understanding. The winner will be announced and contacted on Saturday May 7, 2011.

Need to catch up on the other Mother Nurture posts? Click here.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Mother's Day!

Mother Nurture Month: Our Spirits

It's just one of those weeks...
      The house is a mess.
      My moods have been as low as my to-do list is high.
      I heard my first "I hate you" as a mom.
      And I chose pre-celebration escapes in the Easter candy stash over doing my bible study homework (which would have been more helpful to my spirit and my waistline.)

What advice could I possibly offer today about nurturing the spirit? Perhaps just the fact that we need to! LOL

A tired mom needs healthy escapes.
On our way to a women's ministry meeting earlier this week, I joked with a friend that we could keep driving and never return. Okay, I wasn't completely serious, but I have to admit the idea was somewhat appealing. After all, those trips to the Easter candy hadn't solved anything. But praying, talking with my mom and friends, and taking a nap were healthier alternatives.

A tired mom needs encouraging words.
I love to browse the shelves of second-hand stores for uplifting stories, jokes, quotes, and devotions. Sometimes a chuckle (like the ones I get from the Maxine cartoon) are just what I need to get through the day. Tuck a quote or verse in your pocket and refer back to it like a prescription for positivity.

A tired mom needs to silence the negativity (in her own head and around her.)
This week my depleted spirit became super-sensitive, and I basked in the negativity. I wanted to sit in it. I wanted to perpetuate it. Life became all about me, and I felt like I deserved the attention. But I kept asking myself "why are you down cast, oh my soul?" My mind was choosing negativity but my spirit was trying to rise above it and be encouraged again. Thankfully, with God's help, I was able to silence the negative thoughts long enough to regroup.

A tired mom can choose to be a nurtured mom.
Take some time over the next few days to care for the three areas we've talked about - your home, your body, and your spirit. Next week we'll wrap up the series with some final thoughts and a Mother's Day contest.

Mother Nurture Month: Our Bodies

Last week I took my own advice from the Introduction / Part 1 of this Mother Nurture Month series. After stress and moods got the best of me, I grabbed a book I've owned for almost 2 years and started reading. I'm loving every minute of it!

This week, in a similar fashion, I am about to heed my own advice on caring for my body after major slip ups in this department (I will spare you the snapshot of my bloated belly courtesy of this afternoon's chocolate cookies.) Despite having lap band surgery, joining Curves, participating in a neighborhood weight loss challenge, learning mindfulness techniques, and signing up for yet another weight loss support group, my eating continues to run out of control. Truth be told, I've been standing in the way of my own good health and weight loss success. And it's time to get serious again.

My Vitamix is set to arrive sometime this week, and I'm gearing up for my new support group that begins next week. For now, my goal is simply damage control. I can't take back today's mistakes, but I can plan better for tomorrow, including printing off and starting a food diary again (like these free printables.)

The mother nurtured body, defined.
By my own definition, a mother nurtured body allows you to meet the demands of your life with energy and joy. It's not about the number on the scale but your quality of life. Each of us will have limitations, whether that's illness, excess weight, disabilities, etc. I believe the goal is to care for and maximize the body we've been given so we can be effective for ourselves and the people around us. For instance, my painful, bloated belly has taken me out of commission for the evening - so much so that I had to put off playing with my son until another time. My lack of energy and joy means we both missed out on an awesome opportunity.

A few how-to's...
A mother nurtured body should be nourished with good food; energized with activity; and enlightened through encouragement. This may look different in each of our lives, but the principles remain. In my experience, some people need to avoid things (such as gluten or dairy) when others may not. And the activities and encouragement that work for me (like Zumba and Scripture) may be different than what my neighbor chooses.

Final thoughts...
Take a minute to look at what you're doing well to nurture your body and what still needs improvement. Before I turn you loose, here are the statements I came up with to help keep me on target:

I will nourish and energize my body.
I will make conscious food and activity choices.
I will make time for what's important, not take shortcuts.

How will you nurture your body this week? Leave a comment to share a struggle, a tip, or both.

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Mother Nurture Month: Our Homes

Could you use a little mother nurture?

Take this brief quiz. When was the last time you...

  Took a warm bath?
     Polished your nails?
        Read a book just because?
           Met up with a friend?
              Considered your personal goals and dreams?

This month at MommyForward.com, we are offering a 4-part (weekly) series to help us all enjoy some mother nurturing. Grab a cup of coffee or tea (sans the guilt, of course) and discover ways to nurture yourself without neglecting your family. Being a MommyForward is more than possible, it's necessary for everyone involved. If you're with me, let's get started...

Week 1: Creating a Mother Nurturing Home

What do you think of when you hear the phrase 'mother nurturing home'? Are the floors and surfaces clear? Is the toilet scrubbed? Everything's put away? Those are all great starts, and I'd love my home to always look that way. But busy lives, bustling children, and life's demands can interfere. In my mind, regardless of the housekeeping factor, we can create a home filled with sights, sounds, and smells that nurture us and our families.

Sights
Color accents, fresh flowers, and encouraging verses are great ways to enhance the sight lines throughout the house. I love bargain hunting in thrift stores and at Walmart for inexpensive window valences and decorations to brighten a room. Sometimes I find a plaque or calendar with just the right saying, or if I happen to come across one when I'm reading, I put it on an index card and place it somewhere easy to see.

Sounds
One of my favorite things in the world is a quiet house. You know what I mean, the sound of silence before anyone gets up or once the school bus pulls away. But even without that blank canvas, we can add soothing music, an open window to birds chirping, or an inexpensive tabletop fountain.

Smells
I admit to overlooking scent as a way to nurture myself and my family. But now, I can't live without it! For example, we have to shower or bathe anyway, so why not indulge in a body wash or bubble bath with a pleasing aroma? My favorite is coconut. And, if the thought of burning candles concerns you, there are safer alternatives like candle warmers and air fresheners (check out Scentsy.com to see some of my favorites, like the travel tin.)

Now that we've started brainstorming ways to mother nurtrify our homes, I'd love to hear your comments and suggestions. Leave a comment for a chance to win this week's mystery prize to go along with our "home" theme. [Enter by Thursday 11:59 PM EST and check back on Friday after 10 AM EST to see if you're the winner (in which case you will then email me with your physical mailing address. Open to all U.S. and Canadian residents.]

Finally, here are the topics we'll cover in the coming weeks:

Week 2: Developing a Mother Nurturing Body

Week 3: Encouraging a Mother Nurturing Spirit

Week 4: Maintaining a Mother Nurturing Perspective

Have a great week!