SARKisms for Sanity

Welcome to the October Carnival of Natural Parenting: Staying Centered, Finding Balance
This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have shared how they stay centered and find balance. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.
***

Many moons ago I read my first SARK book, Inspiration Sandwich. I had a great friend that introduced me to her colorful, free spirited writings. I really enjoyed SARK's sense of adventure. She has such a  positive attitude and offers encouragement to live life to its fullest.She encourages you to look at ordinary moments and make them moments to celebrate. I loved how I felt after reading her books, they gave me a feeling of being alive and happy!

Those were books I read before I had children. It seemed they were put up on the bookshelf and I haven't lifted them down since. Now my bookshelf is mostly filled with breastfeeding and birthing how-to's. Well for whatever reason,  I actually pulled one  of SARK's book down off the shelf today, and what perfect timing!  It was just the inspiration I needed.  I've had a particularly stressful month with my husband traveling out of town for work three separate times. This has left me  more than exhausted. I would go almost a week without a bath (eewww, right?). So I certainly didn't have any "me" time. As a result I've felt like a martyr, pushed and pulled beyond all recognition. It's not a pleasant feeling. (How do you single moms do it?!) So I thought I'd share a few SARKisms with you as I share with you ideas on finding time to recenter yourself as a busy mama. I noticed a lot of her advice in her Inspiration Sandwich match parenting perfectly.

"Retreat when necessary"           "Put food coloring in your bath water"                  "Eat inspiring foods"

My favorite way to find some balance in my life is taking a giant bubble bath, sipping a nice glass of red wine and eating some organic, fair-trade dark chocolate, while reading something uplifting. Ohhh...heaven! I am amazed how such a simple thing as taking a bubble bath can completely put me in a different frame of mind. It helps me center myself after a long day and emerge  feeling  like a more loving and patient mama. I do have a hard time relaxing, often I'll lie in bed at night with my mind racing with to-do lists and remembering things I forgot to finish. I think a big reason this happens is because I don't take enough time to center myself each day. A small retreat often does the trick. 

"If you've lost your sense of humor..find it fast!"  "Laugh your head off. ( then get it back!)"

This applies perfectly to parenting, does it not? I have been enjoying reading Playful Parenting as recommended by Code Name: Mama. It really speaks a lot to the power of play. A little humor can go a long way. 

"Refuse to sit still for negative thinking"

It's easy to let negativity take over, especially after a long day(s). Keeping a positive outlook helps keep things in perspective. When you stay positive, your kids will be positive. This is one I need to work on!!

"Lie down A LOT!"

Yes, this one is a lot easier to do when single. However, I found that lying down to take a nap with my Lil' Z  or saying "yes" to a  snuggle on the couch with Big Z can be quite refreshing. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to give yourself permission to do it. It's often easier to keep running around trying to whittle down your to-do list, but a nap and a snuggle is much more rewarding in the long run.

SARK talks about self love and finding the time to keep your 'cup full'. I have a lot to learn in this area, it was easier for me to do when I was single and when I didn't have children. This is definitely an area that I need to work on. I think I pulled out her books at just the right time. Our family is going to go on vacation soon, I'll be taking these books along for some extra motivation and refreshment. I really look forward to learning what you do to stay centered and find a balance.

***

***

Visit Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

(This list will be updated October 12 with all the carnival links.)

• Balance — Sheila at A Gift Universe has put her baby first — and has no regrets. (@agiftuniverse)
• A Moment for Mama — Starr at Earth Mama has learned how to recharge on the run, so she doesn't miss a moment with her children.
• Take a 30-Minute or 5-Minute Me-Break — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now discusses the merits of taking small daily breaks to maintain balance. (@DebChitwood)
• Achieving Balance — In a guest post at the new Natural Parents Network, Heather explains how yoga has helped her find balance in her personal and family life.
  (@NatParNet)
• A Stitch in (Quiet) Time Saves Momma’s Mind — Joni Rae at Tales of a Kitchen Witch Momma didn't realize she needed "me" time — until she got it and had no idea what to do with herself. (@kitchenwitch)
• Attachment Parenting and Balance — Michelle at The Parent Vortex believes that the last item on the "attachment parenting" list is both the most important and the most overlooked. (@TheParentVortex)
• Little Breaks Bring a Little Balance — Jen at Grow with Graces finds balance - some days! (@growwithgraces)
• Finding Balance — Are you a Type A mama? Dionna at Code Name: Mama is, and she needs your help to find balance. (@CodeNameMama)
• (high)Centered — Stefanie at Very, Very Fine has had a spa gift certificate sitting on her nightstand since last year, a symbol of her inability to take time for herself.
• Taking Time for Me — Marita at Stuff With Thing takes refuge in the world of books, with her daughters immersed in reading beside her. (@leechbabe)
• Writing as a parent: October Carnival of Natural Parenting — Lauren at Hobo Mama didn't let parenting put her passions on hold. (@Hobo_Mama)
• The Dance of Balance — Balance isn't static. It is dynamic, it is a dance, it is about keeping in touch with you. Read this wonderful bit of wisdom from Seonaid at the Practical Dilettante. (@seonaid_lee)
• Rest Hour — a Primer — Do you get 15 minutes to yourself each day? How about an hour?! Mrs. H. at Fleeting Moments shares her tips on how to incorporate a "rest hour" for adults and kids.
• Separation Is Critical — Only through enforced separation with the end of her marriage did Jessica at This is Worthwhile realize she should have taken time apart all along. (@tisworthwhile)
• Bread, Roses, and a Side of Guilt. — Betsy at Honest 2 Betsy isn't ashamed to admit that she enjoys a pint once in awhile, or that her daughter recreates it during pretend play.

• The World from Within My Arms — Rachael at The Variegated Life finds balance despite her work and her husband's commitment to art through attachment parenting. (@RachaelNevins)
• Balancing the Teeter-Totter — Rebecca is rediscovering balance by exploring her interests and passions in several different categories. She shares in this guest post at The Connected Mom. (@theconnectedmom)
• Balancing this Life — Danielle at born.in.japan is slowly learning the little tricks that make her family life more balanced. (@borninjp)
• Uninterrupted Parenting — Amy at Innate Wholeness has learned that she does not need to interrupt parenting in order to find balance.
• Knitting for My Family — Knitting is more than just a hobby for Kellie at Our Mindful Life, it is her creative and mental outlet, it has blessed her with friendships she might not otherwise have had, and it provides her with much-needed balance.
• Taking the Time — Sybil at Musings of a Milk Maker has all the time she needs, now her girls are just a bit older.
• Please, Teach Me How — Amy at Anktangle needs your help: please share how you find time for yourself, because she is struggling. (@anktangle)
• A Pendulum Swings Both Ways — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment found herself snapping with too little time for herself, and then veered toward too much.
• Finding Balance Amidst Change — It took a season of big changes and added responsibility, but Melodie of Breastfeeding Moms Unite! now feels more balanced and organized as a mama than ever before. (@bfmom)
• At Home with Three Young Children: The Search for Balance, Staying Sane — With three young kids, Kristin at Intrepid Murmurings knows parents sometimes have to adjust their expectations of how much downtime they can reasonably have. (@sunfrog)
• Attachment Parenting? And finding some "Me Time" — As a mother who works full time, Momma Jorje wants "me" time that includes her daughter.
• A Balancing Act — Sheryl at Little Snowflakes has concrete ways to help keep centered with a little one and a new baby on the way, from exercise to early bedtimes to asking for help. (@sheryljesin)
• Aspiring Towards Libra — Are your soul-filling activities the first to be pushed aside when life gets hectic? Kelly of KellyNaturally.com aspires to make time for those "non-necessities" this year. (@kellynaturally)
• SARKisms for Sanity — Erica at ChildOrganics has found renewed inspiration to take baths and laugh often from a book she had on the shelf. (@childorganics)