How do you find patience when your cup is empty?
Bliss Baby Yoga Director and lead teacher, Nadine O’Mara shares this personal journal entry from when her children were a few years younger. She goes on to offer the small practices she has woven into her daily life to help find space amongst the challenges of parenthood.
I sit and write on this too warm a Sydney evening after spending a night and entire day in the selfless service to my now nine year old daughter for her birthday today. I emerge exhausted. She’s exhausted too ( after a beautiful day) but can’t sleep, maybe it’s the heat or just over tired? After what feels like the 59th trip up to my children’s bedroom, I wonder what motherhood is really all about. I’m pushed to the edge of my patience, I’ve used every conscious parenting technique under the sun to no avail and am now just frustrated, even angry. Why do I try?
In preparing for an upcoming mother self care workshop, I have been giving so much consideration to the Karma yoga we practice as parents. As mothers we carry such a significant role, known to be our child’s first Guru. Most of us go to such lengths to give our children the framework, not only physically but emotionally, from which a well balanced child can grow. But at what cost? How much do we really give back to ourselves and how necessary is it that we do so? Let me tell you, very.
Without taking time to nurture ourselves, it is very hard to give and support others. We know this, yes? Of course we do, but the demands of motherhood don’t stop when your child is at school or with grandparents or even with your partner. There may be a stolen moment for one’s self during these times but how frequent do we have the opportunity for downtime? Our best chance is to find ways for self nurture that don’t always rely on our children being in care.
Weave your self care into your Karma Yoga 
Have you ever tried meditating while you wash the dishes? Concentrating on every movement and sensation of your actions? You are practicing meditation and even relaxation anytime you are completely present in what you are doing.
The next time you cook dinner, try turning off the phone and the music and lose yourself in your actions. Or if baby is asleep, try going for a walk on the beach with them and be completely present, no phone. Yoga Nidra or meditation on the senses while feeding your baby can be equally nurturing while a Restorative Yoga pose or two can be better than a nap if your baby is having a brief sleep.
Practicing a little yoga asana with your child can also be an option, not only to get your body moving but may encourage a positive awareness within your child of ways to practice self care. What becomes familiar practice to a child stays with them for life. A meeting with other like minded conscious mamas might also be the nourishment your heart craves.
As mothers, in order to give well, we must give to ourselves. It will never be the same as before we had children but in accepting this, the small moments we create for ourselves allow us to step forward in this role of motherhood with lightness.
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