The Self-Care Party for Moms
Are you a 40+ mom with unique self-care and parenting needs? Well, Dear Mommy, This Party Is Just Getting Started! Entering motherhood in your 40s is a different kind of journey for many women. If you are a mom of multiples, an adoptive mom, or a mom with unique situations that often present themselves in our 40s and you are looking to level up your self-care game as a busy mom who is doing all the things? Join me, Elizabeth Camargo Garcia, a psychotherapist by background and busy mom of twins myself, bringing you this podcast where I spill all the secrets for moms like you who want to prioritize self-care without sacrificing precious time with your little ones. Discover practical tips, heartwarming stories, and expert advice on practicing self-care and healthy bonding with your children, even with a jam-packed schedule on your hands. Join the party and hit that play button and let's dive into the amazing world of motherhood together!
The Self-Care Party for Moms
Balancing Act: Navigating Motherhood with the Demands of Aging Parents and Little Ones
Caught between the laughter of my children and the wisdom of my aging mother, I felt the weight of the sandwich generation pressing down on my shoulders. If you've ever been torn between the needs of your kids and the care for your parents, this conversation is for you. In a gathering that's equal parts support group and strategy session, I open up about the tightrope walk of motherhood and eldercare. It's a journey filled with challenges, but one that doesn't have to be walked alone. Join us for candid discussions, heartfelt advice, and a community that gets it – because no one should have to navigate these waters solo.
This episode is a toolkit for anyone riding the rollercoaster of caring for young ones while also attending to an elder. With practical tips on establishing self-care routines amidst the chaos, and strategies for injecting flexibility into your jam-packed week, we tackle the gritty details that come with this dual-role dance. We're not just sharing stories; we're building bridges to better balance, and crafting a life where joy can coexist with the demands of a generation caught in the middle. No guests, just real talk—because sometimes, the expert you need is the voice of experience whispering, "I've been there too."
Are you in need of support navigating motherhood through all the highs and the lows? Is it impacting your ability to bond with our children? Then make sure to join our Mommy and Me Book Club today and start building wonderful and supportive connections with likeminded moms. Join today!
Ready to build your very own self-care ritual? Sign-up to receive my Self-Care Ritual Checklist that helped me keep my sanity during the toughest moments of motherhood. Grab your copy now!
Music Credits: Flybird Audio Jazz by Jamendo Music
Disclaimer: The information provided on this site is strictly for educational purposes. Do not rely on this information as professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult with your medical provider before engaging in any physical activity that may be contraindicated to your health. If you need medical advice, research and consult with a medical professional in your area.
Do you sometimes wish you could find that one friend that understands what you are experiencing, someone that could really truly identify what you are going through and feel understood by that? Or maybe you wish you could pick someone's brain on different parenting topics? Or just wish you could have a platform in which you could talk about all the things related to your motherhood journey that is more than just looking at a funny reel. Well, if so, if this is you, I have just the thing for you. Join me on Facebook, as I've created an awesome group in which you can do just that. It is in its early stages, but here you will find some of your questions answered and a respectful community of women that are working through very similar struggles in parenting and self-care, so join me today with the handle the Dear Mommy Party. I have also linked to it in the show notes, so make sure you subscribe today. I'll see you on the inside.
Speaker 1:Sometime last year, I experienced a moment in which my kids were screaming and fighting and saying Mom, mom, mom. Well, at the same time, my own mom was trying to ask me questions related to her health care. In that moment, I felt pulled in different directions and remembered that late last year, I heard the term the sandwich generation on a podcast from the New York Times and it hit me like a ton of bricks that I was experiencing exactly that being pulled by the care of my children and the care of my parent. So, my dear Mommy, friend, if this is you, listen in because I have some helpful tips just for you. Hello, and thank you for tuning in today to Dear Mommy, this party is just getting started, the place where you will find self-care, peaceful and fun parenting and wellness resources at your fingertips. Let's dive in. So, first of all, let me tell you what the term the sandwich generation means. It is a term that was described as a parent or a person who had children in their late 30s, early 40s, and is having to experience the care of an aging parent as well as the care of little ones. So this is something new because, as people are having children later in life, then they're having to experience something unlike no other generation, which is caring for both little ones, which require a ton of care and responsibility, as well as caring for aging parents. So here are some of the helpful tips that you can implement that I've benefited from caring for my parents and now, of course, only my one parent, since I had the loss of my father a little bit over a year ago.
Speaker 1:The first tip I have for you is to get to a point of acceptance. What I mean by this is to accept what this moment in time is. The more you resist something in your life that causes you stress, the more things will feel worse for you, and a lot more stressful, by the mere fact that you wish things were different. Practice being present for this moment in time. Find a way to embrace what it is and try to see the glass half full in practicing mindfulness and gratitude for the moment you get to live. Show up with feeling positive that you have the gift of your children and the gift of your parents.
Speaker 1:Tip number two prioritize yourself care by establishing a routine. What I mean by this is take out your calendar. Schedule yourself first your own doctor appointments, moments you need for a massage or to have lunch with a friend. These moments will be the things that plug you back in and recharge you well enough to be able to provide care to the others who need you. Once you schedule yourself, schedule the things that are day to day. Look at times when you have more flexibility for the care of your parents and children. For example, I now have a very flexible schedule due to being a therapist that provides mostly telehealth appointments, but I make sure to schedule most of my clients from Mondays to Thursdays and allow for Fridays to be the days to take my mom or my kids to doctor appointments or other types of chores that may be needed. This way, there is consistency around the care. If your children are involved in activities, try to look for centers that have practice hours that work around the time that you have at your disposal. Make things work according to which you can provide with your time. Ask your employer for flexibility. Maybe you can work for tens and have one day off a week so that you can work on these things as well and manage more consistency and routine to the care of the people you're responsible for. Still trying to figure out how to squeeze self-care into your life, don't forget to download the free self-care checklist that I use to make sure I have much needed moments of self-care that bring peace to my life. With this checklist, you will be off to a start with a self-care ritual unlike no other that will leave you feeling rested and feeling like your best mom's self. Make sure you download your copy today. You can find the link in the show notes.
Speaker 1:Tip number three seek support. Look to family, other siblings and other family members that can help. There are many ways a person can help without having to take much time out of their day. Make use of all the technology available. Help can come in various ways, such as ordering groceries from a delivery service app. You can look at support from the various health care settings available to your parent, for example, transportation is often provided to and from the clinics based on the coverage that your parent may have, and some of these services are free or have a small fee. Others can help you with the research around things like that as well.
Speaker 1:Oftentimes we shy away from asking for help, thinking that we have to ask people to do intense physical things, but sometimes just helping us with technological services is worth weight and gold. So there you have it Three tips to help you as you navigate the care of little ones and aging parents. Remember my fellow mom. These are just some of the steps that I've taken when working through these responsibilities of caring for my children and helping with my mom and her doctor appointments, and it's just meant to get you started on finding a way to get things done. I hope you have found this helpful and that you continue to listen for more self-care and parenting tips. Now remember to join me in our new Facebook group for some more interaction and support.
Speaker 1:Looking for more self-care tips? Make sure you sign up for my weekly newsletter, where you will receive one enjoyable self-care tip every Monday that you can easily weave into your busy life. Head on over to the link in the show notes and sign up today. Also, if you are enjoying these episodes, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. And, the most important thing, don't forget to be your most beautiful mom's self. Until next time. Bye, bye. Hi. I'm Elizabeth Komago Garcia, licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of Calamine, an organization that helps moms establish self-care routines through courses, book clubs and community. A quick disclaimer yes, I am a licensed marriage and family therapist, but none of the educational material mentioned in this podcast is meant to be psychotherapy or medical advice. If you need these type of professional services, please seek the help of a medical professional in your area.