Routines can be good but sometimes we have to change them up!
School is out in many places across the country. If your school year hasn’t ended yet, it will soon and your normal routine will change.
Several years ago I was sick with a stomach virus. My diet consisted of crackers and Gatorade, and I needed more rest. I even skipped my early morning prayer group to get some extra sleep.
In order to get well, I had to change my routine because it was important to my overall health.
If we take extra care of ourselves when we struggle from physical illness, perhaps we should do the same when we struggle under the weight and responsibility of stepparenting demands.
If you’ve been a stepparent long, you’ve probably had those days when you feel drained and discouraged from the stepparenting routine.
You know the routine I’m referring to. The mundane parenting tasks without the usual regard as a parent, constant responsibility for your stepchildren with limited rights, and continuous energy toward doing the right thing with little or no appreciation at times.
And with school out, you may be around your stepchildren more than usual and begin to suffer from the “sick of stepparenting” routine.
Perhaps it’s time for more self-care.
Here are five ways you can practice self-care and help get relief from the stepparenting routine.
- Go for a walk.
- Have lunch with a friend.
- Read a good book.
- Get a mani/pedi.
- Take a break from your regular routine and do something nice for yourself.
And if you can afford it, plan a weekend away with your spouse. You might be surprised at how even one night away can make a BIG difference.
FamilyLife offers an amazing week-end getaway that will refresh and recharge your marriage in 95 locations across the country. My husband and I attended one the first year we married and benefited greatly from it. You can find locations and dates here: https://www.familylife.com/weekend-to-remember
Stepparenting can be a demanding role. As stepparents, we need to decide when it’s time to take a break from the routine to refill our reservoir, enabling us to continue our stepparenting journey with a refreshed spirit.
What is your favorite way to take a break from stepparenting?
And remember that it will not always be like this. Beauty does follow pain.
You can find more stepparenting help in my book StepParenting with Grace.
I go on vacation with my mom and sister every year. My husband does not choose to go away from the farm (where we care for his disabled father and assorted farm animals), but he seems to understand that this stepmom needs a break.
We have my 12-year old stepson 50% of the time and I get along fabulously with his mother, who has a matching tattoo of our blended little family.
Jenn, vacation with your mom and sister sounds like a great way to take a break! I also love that you guys have matching tattoos of your blended family and you have a good relationship with the mom. You guys are obviously doing a lot of things right as you grow and develop relationships with one another. God bless you, Gayla