15th July 2010 , Posted by Jaime Teo
Planning THE holiday (Part 2)
Many thoughts went through my mind the day I returned home from the stay at Marina Bay Sands. I kept analyzing why it wasn’t as enjoyable as past hotel stays. Have I lost my sense of adventure and fun? And this is only ONE night away from home L
To make myself feel worse, I thought about how travelling is the only thing I’m really big on (I’m not a big fan of branded anything and can do without good food too!). So if I don’t even enjoy vacationing anymore, where’s the joy in life? (Yes, it’s really easy to dig a deeper hole than the one you’re wallowing in) I went to bed feeling upset and wondering if having a baby was the right thing to have done.
After a good night’s rest, I woke up feeling better. Have you ever felt that way before? Going to bed feeling like all is doom and gloom and waking up wondering what those negative feelings were about?
Anyhow, I whined spoke to my sister about it(she brought her 5mth old to Korea). She asked if I’ve been very tired lately and I said “Yes.”
She sent me this SMS:
‘Getting the proper amount of rest is not easy for busy women; However, I realize that I’m not doing anybody any favors if I sacrifice my rest. Not getting enough sleep weakens my defences and heightens my emotions. If I sense I am overly tired, I make it a priority to schedule some rest time. Even if that means having to skip other things. I’ve been known to spray down some clothes with Febreeze instead of washing them and letting my kids eat cereal for dinner as practical ways to fit a nap into my day. It’s that important. – Lyra Terkeurst.
I think every new mom lacks the discipline of getting ample rest. I still remember a time when I was catching kdramas to the wee hours of the morning. For a few days I was just like an alligator. Snap snap snap :p The things we learn in parenting. I feel those things I didn’t master when I was younger, I’m doing time for them now. :s’
That was very enlightening to me.
The most important thing I didn’t plan for was to set time aside to rest. Can I now take back all the afternoons I didn’t want to nap? 
Every time Renee naps, I feel like it’s “me” time and give in to doing everything but resting. I neglect that “me” time should be wisely used and recuperating is as good a cause as surfing or gaming catching up with friends or replying that other email.
Rest, it seems, improves disposition, energy level and in short, your entire day whether or not you’re on a vacation. All the things I knew but apparently didn’t know.
When I became a Mommy, the furthest thing on my mind was self discipline. We had discussed Renee’s discipline plenty but not ours. What’s really ironic, is that disciplining her to sleep well had been top priority, when it’s My sleep habits I should be getting right.
Parenting sure is humbling.
3 Comments
Carol
July 15th, 2010 at 3:55 am
Hi Jiamie,
Well said. I have also learnt this impt lesson ( just recently only and I have 3 kids!). Hubby and I neglect the ‘rest’ time and end up late at nites at the laptop and TV. We have since take a step back when fatigue starts to take a toll on us. I happy to say since we started resting and sleeping early, we are much happier and more energised. More imptly, I have ’snap’ at people lesser….
Carol
Jaime Teo
July 16th, 2010 at 9:18 am
Wow. You survived to kid 3 before needing the rest? *salute
Jaslin
August 17th, 2010 at 1:48 am
Hi Jamie,
Wow, this seems so familiar as this has been what I am going thru. Just gave birth to a bb boy after a six years gap. My elder one is 6 years old and we now have to go back to the late nights, crying again….v tired especially when I didn’t know what the baby wants….not first time mother but we will still have times that we are up to our neck and didn’t know what to do…yes, I’m tired especially things dun go in our way…..
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