Taking It Back So I Can Be A Better Moi

Ever notice how society expects women to do it all? We are supposed to be wife, mother, breadwinner, chef, chauffeur, doctor, accountant, maid, teacher…should I go on? Because of these demands, we are all stretched so thin, I’m surprised we haven’t ripped apart.

Well I’m surprised I haven’t ripped apart, I should say.

Then we beat ourselves up because we aren’t SuperWoman, SuperMom and SuperWife. Is it any wonder that we are the most stressed out gender?

And hungry. I never get to sit down and eat a decent meal. I’m always on the go and my health suffers because I’m not getting the nutrients my body needs.

But this month, I’m taking it all back. I want to be a better moi.

(As I’m sitting here writing this on a Saturday night when I should be in bed…)

I can’t clone myself, I can’t afford a staff to do all the things I have to do each day, so I’m just stopping it all. How can I be what my daughter and Husband need if I’m trying to be all things? I need to concentrate on what I’m good at, what makes me happy and what’s best for my family.

That was really hard for me to say. I was a psychiatric nurse another lifetime ago in the state prison system. I quite successfully managed the medications and mental health files of a couple thousand inmates. I had it all running like clockwork. If an inmate didn’t show up for a scheduled appointment, I called out the dogs. Especially if they had a medication that was about to expire.

I once had an inmate come two hours late to her appointment with accompanied by a staff member. She was a prisoner. Where the hell could she have been that was so important? I was told that said inmate was busy rehearsing for the “friends and family” show they were putting on and was it really necessary for her to take time off for this appointment? I replied, “Well her psychiatric meds are expired and unless you want this prisoner to lose it in the middle of the show, I highly suggest she sees the doctor so they can be refilled. A psychotic break in front of family members and state officials would not bode well for you keeping your job.”

I miss that job. But I no longer have the energy for it.

I no longer have energy for much of anything anymore. I need to start taking my vitamins again. I know the benefits of being on a good regimen, but more often then not, life gets in the way. While I was pregnant, I made sure to take my prenatals and my Omega-3’s. I took the latter four times daily because I had read that it would help your baby have good eyes and greatly increase brain development. My Husband and I both wear glasses, so anything I could do to prevent my child from a similar fate was mandatory. I also have a tendency of becoming anemic, so the prenatals helped my iron levels stay normal.

And what do you know, The Diva  has perfect vision and is extremely smart!

Score one for mom and the power of vitamins!

I’m forty years old, I’m not exactly a spring chicken anymore. But I have a young child I need to keep up with and a good vitamin regimen will help me accomplish that. I should also mention that I run an online graphics/blog design business from home in addition to all of my other daily duties. Unlike a woman who works outside the home, I don’t get a steady paycheck. Trying to make my business a success is exhausting!

Finding a balance between work, home duties and having family time is three times as exhausting. And I barely leave the house!

So here is my plan: Omega-3 for overall health, Ginseng for energy, Prenatal to help make up the shortfall in my diet, B12 for that pesky PMS. I also need something to help with sleep. I haven’t found anything yet that, but I will. I plan to vigilant about this; I need to be the best I can be. That doesn’t mean that I will have a house that looks like it was cleaned, organized and decorated by Martha Stewart, nor does it mean that I will suddenly become a Top Chef. What it does mean is that I will be taking my life a little slower and not working so much. I need to be present in my life. I have a little girl who is growing up in the blink of an eye; if I turn my gaze away for too long, I will miss something important.

And that? That is just not acceptable.

 
Nature Made® provides top quality vitamins, supplements, minerals and herbs that meet the highest industry-wide standards of purity and potency for consumers’ individual nutritional needs. Nature Made is the #1 Pharmacist Recommended Brand for Letter Vitamins, Fish Oil, and CoQ10.

Naturemade.com – The site provides information on our products including label and dosage information. The Nature Made Health Center contains articles and videos on a range of topics related to vitamins and health. There are also Wellness Tools to help consumers create their own personalized vitamin assessment, take quizzes, and customize their wellness plans.

VitaminHerbUniversity.com – A resource for health care professionals for up-to-date evidence-based information on dietary supplements.

About Supplements

Many Americans often fall short on getting the nutrients their bodies need. Dietary supplements are intended to supplement the diet where there may be nutrient shortfalls. Vitamins and minerals work together to keep the body growing and functioning normally. They help convert food into energy, keep cells healthy, and support the immune system.

Selecting Vitamins and Supplements

Shopping for vitamins and supplements can be overwhelming. So here’s a quick list you might want to share with your readers to make them a bit more comfortable the next time they’re in the shopping aisle:

1. Talk to your physician or pharmacist Yes, your pharmacist and other health care professionals are well versed in vitamins and other supplements. Ask your health care professional about recommend vitamins, dosage values for your individual needs and more!
2. Do your research. There are a number of resources for consumers. Start by taking Nature Made’s vitamin assessment tool. Visit FamilyDoctor.org for credible, physician-reviewed information on health and wellness topics, including the role vitamins and supplements can play in a healthy, active and balanced lifestyle.
3. Look for the qualified third-party endorsements. When searching for supplements, look for verification from qualified third-party organizations, such as the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). Finding this mark on a dietary supplement label helps to assure consumers that the supplements they buy meet the quality standards they expect.

More information about Nature Made

Nature Made is the #1 Pharmacist Recommended Brand for Letter Vitamins and Fish Oil, as determined by the 2011 Pharmacy Times survey.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Nature Made and received promotional items to thank me for taking the time to participate. Please vote for my entry at www.facebook.com/naturemade between 9/20/11 and 12 noon (PST) on 9/26/11.

Tags: NatureMade Vitamins

Category: Family, Thoughts