Parents, it’s only normal to develop habits because our minds try to save life energy by going on auto-pilot sometimes, also known as habits. However, the secret to life is to create habits that help us instead of hurt us.
For example, many of us parents have developed a bad habit of not sleeping enough. I know I have. Unfortunately, I don’t really see the habit of not sleeping enough, changing anytime soon. However, it’s going to have to eventually change. The Harvard Medical School has come out with a study that says if we don’t average at least six hours of sleep a night, we’re actually increasing our risks of death. Yup. Death. That’s a bad thing.
Next, many of us parents have developed the bad habit of eating in the car on the run. We eat high carb, high fat, high cholesterol, high salt, and high sugar foods on the go. This is not a good habit. Parents, this is really, really bad for us. And remember, if we don’t have our health, we don’t have anything.
Finally, we parents also have the terrible habit of ALWAYS putting others first, especially our children. When we see something we want, we usually won’t buy it for ourselves because it somehow seems selfish. Nor, will we even allow ourselves quiet time or time to relax, or just time for ourselves. We also put off our doctor visits because we want to make sure our kids get all their doctor visits first. We can’t imagine how we can do any more running around than we’re already doing. Remember, though, if we don’t have our own health, we have nothing in the end.
Now, as my Granddaddy always said, “Go learn, lead and lay the way to a better world for all of us.” Remember to stop and think about how some of our parenting habits are hurting us and let’s decide right now to replace them with better habits. And once again parents, thanks in advance for all that you do, and all that you will do…
