Self care and mug cakes
Hi everyone! I have had a big BIG break from blogging to focus on other mum related things, pandemic...moving house and general exhaustion. So I thought for my first post back, I would write about self care and letting yourself feel ok about stepping away from your projects for a while.
I will be the first person to admit that I am easily overwhelmed. But I deal with those feelings as soon as they start to come up, whether it be talking them out with a friend or seeking the help of a professional. Lately I have been feeling the strain of caring for a teething toddler, maintaining a house alone and my own self image.
Olive, as absolutely perfect and wonderful as she is, occasionally won't let me put her down for a day at a time. Won't let anyone else take her and will plop down onto her bottom and scream like the floor is lava. I know it is totally normal, rationally, but it can make me extremely tired by the end of the day. So that's that...
My house work does get on top of me because of this, I let jobs build up when I am tending to Olive and end up whoosing around the house with a spray bottle in one hand and a vacuum in the other, mum-bun akimbo and sweat pouring out of places that it should not. Manic cleaning is NOT a good look on me, trust me! (I am sure you've done it!)
And then there is the mum bod. I am always the person doling out words like "you are so beautiful" and "your curves are amazing" to everyone else, but myself. Fluctuations in my weight have me thrown through a loop. I know my body is still reeling to find the new normal after my pregnancy and finally getting my menstrual cycle back after a year of breastfeeding. I know that my physical appearance doesn't dictate my worth, nor how much respect I deserve and yet... those old thoughts creep in! My clothes are tight one day and baggy the next, my belly a map of wide stretch marks, thighs that just won't quit jiggling. I know I should be learning to love my new form. But it is hard! And I am TIRED!
It is hard to be a chill mum sometimes!
I have been slowly getting back into my projects after quite a long hiatus. I went to a life drawing session, started yoga again and joined a new mums group. One of the things I am most excited about it painting. I am working on a special painting for myself and also enjoying some very free little still-lives. It's good to get back to it, but i definitely needed the break. Getting burnt out doesn't help anyone!
Along with starting up some healthy hobbies again I went to my gp and let her know how I had been feeling. She put me in touch with a lovely psychologist. I am looking forward to venting out some of my feelings and learning new ways to deal with certain thoughts and generally be a better, happier person. We all need to keep working on ourselves and learning and growing so that WE the parent can PARENT as best we can AND be happy. As the old saying goes, you can't pour from an empty cup. I don't want to be an empty cup. I want to be a full cup.
You should too!
Now...
Mug cakes! I am obsessed with them. You can make so many different kinds and they are soo easy and yummy! If it's the middle of the night and you really want a little treat, but there is nothing in the house...mug cake!
Here is my fave...
1/4 cup self raising flour
2tbsp Brown sugar (yeah unhealthy but fuck it!)
1 pinch of salt
1 egg
1tbsp of butter or butter replacement
2tbsp of milk or soy
1tbsp of quick oats
1tsp of vanilla essence
1/4tsp of cinnamon powder
Small handful of raisins
HOW TO!
Mix the dry ingredients in the biggest mug you have.
Then add the wet and mix.
Add the raisins.
Microwave for 80 seconds.
DONE!
Enjoy mumma! You earned it!
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