A “Time-Out” for Parents
Moms and dads need to take a time-out for themselves every now and again. Not the kind of “time out” where you sit in the corner for 15 minutes, but rather a relaxing escape. Working in massage therapy, owning my own studio in Boca Raton, Florida, and being a husband and parent, I hear a wide variety of reasons why clients come in for massages. The ones that ring most true and are the most sincere are those from parents, especially those with young children.
Being a parent, I know firsthand that once you have a child, your life goes on hold and is completely turned upside down. You neglect yourself, whether that means giving up sleep to tackle chores, skipping the gym, cutting out adult social time, forgetting date night with your partner, or making unhealthy yet convenient food choices. We all try to be supermom and superdad, but that is just not humanly possible 24/7.
A massage is just one of many ways to take a quick time-out and give back to yourself. It can take as little time as an hour so there’s no need to feel guilty. My wife is lucky because the massage studio comes to her when I come home from work. But every parent deserves and needs time to focus on their well-being. In the end, it benefits their relationship with their partner as well as making them a better parent as they have had time to decompress, de-stress, relax, and take a break from the rewarding yet chaotic job of being a parent. Whether it is becoming a monthly member at a local massage studio, scheduling an impromptu massage when it is convenient for you, or a gift during the holidays, taking some me-time is valuable for more than just you. As a parent, your health mentally and physically and spiritually should never be neglected.
“When you touch a body, you touch the whole person, the intellect, the spirit, and the emotions.”
—Jane Harrington
After reading this post, getting a massage is all I can think about!
Yes! I love getting massage gift cards (and giving them). No better way to force yourself to disconnect and take time off.
I completely agree with this article and need to follow through with this advice. My husband always tells me to go get a massage whenever I want to and I just never do it. I do however, try to plan time with my girlfriends at least once every couple of months whether we go out to dinner, to the movies or do the beach without the kiddos!
Yes! There is no better gift for a new mom (or dare I say any mom!) than a massage gift certificate and a babysitter.