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
Creating Memories and Nurturing Self-Care: A Mother's Guide to Bonding Through Books
Every mother has felt it—the tug of guilt as we juggle the demands of our careers with the yearning to be there for every precious moment with our children. I've lived it too, and I found my sanctuary in the pages of books shared with my twins. In our latest episode, I peel back the layers of my own story, exposing the vulnerability and triumphs of motherhood intertwined with a professional life. Discover how the simple act of daily reading can weave an unbreakable bond, as I take you through a heartwarming guide of my top 10 books for fostering a love of literature and creating a treasure trove of memories with your little ones.
Joining us, Elizabeth Camargo Garcia, an esteemed licensed marriage and family therapist, sheds light on a topic close to every mom's heart—self-care. Our conversation illuminates the importance of nurturing the nurturer, offering hope and strategies to find balance and vitality amidst the beautiful chaos of raising children. Elizabeth's insights from Kalla Mind not only inspire but provide actionable steps, reminding us that while we hold a wealth of knowledge, sometimes reaching out to a professional is the bravest act of self-care. Don't miss this enriching dialogue filled with personal anecdotes, expert advice, and the warmth of shared experiences on the journey of motherhood.
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.
Ready to embark on the goal of becoming closer to your child through reading. If that is your goal this year, then you must download my list of 10 favorite books that I use to read to my twins throughout their early years. Download your copy today and head on over to the library and start spending these precious reading moments with your child today. I remember my earlier days as a mom of twins. I felt so much guilt when I headed back to work now because I wanted to be a stay at my mom, which is completely fine if that is your choice, but for me it wasn't. But all the guilt of not choosing, that was real. 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.
Speaker 1:I love working and although I have changed my career since the birth of our twins, my schedule wasn't what it is now. In fact, my schedule was pretty tight and typically 9-5 up until my twins celebrated their 4th birthday. In those early years, I had a very intense career in infection prevention that required me to be on call all the time, especially in the early stages of COVID, I was also juggling studying to get license and marriage and family therapy and was finishing up an internship while trying to start my own private practice. This is where the guilt would kick in. I have always loved learning and hustling and being a part of challenging my educational and knowledge growth. However, continuing in my work career left me feeling tremendous guilt over not choosing to stay home when it was a possibility in our home. I reflected a lot during this time and trying to see what it was that my children were missing, if anything, and if my relationship with them was suffering. In this time of reflection, I realized that our relationship was not suffering and that they did indeed have everything they needed, including the relationship that I wanted to have with them. We were close. They were both happy to see me when I got home, they enjoyed me and they were so loving towards me as I was with them. I asked myself how this had happened, even while knowing that they rarely received individual time with me alone, which is another topic for another day. Don't get me started on how this is many moms of multiples and what they have to work through and not being able to share individual time with each baby as if it were a single time. Okay, so how did I do this? How did I manage to have such a beautiful bond with my kiddos in spite of all the things that were keeping me busy? Let me tell you how. It was something as simple and yet also powerful. It was through books.
Speaker 1:Before having my kids, I was already a reader and lover of all things books. So instead of diapers at my baby shower, guests were asked to bring a book, and so my baby's reading journey started early on. I read to them every day, and it is a practice that we continue every day still now that they are seven. I have so many pictures and videos, and in a lot of these memories captured, they both are holding books. They always asked to be read to, and it is something that I made sure I did with them every day. This is how I bonded with my sweet babies. It doesn't happen religiously every day, because, of course, now there's more and more to do, but for the majority of time, we still have reading as a special moment that we share together.
Speaker 1:It was through books that we bonded and that we continued to bond. I would read to them and act out some of the characters and words. They were also so intrigued. These moments were always so special to me because this is how we spent the majority of our quality time during the week. It was through moments reading, playing out the characters, laughing, singing, hugging and saying our gratitude prayers at night. I remember having this quote in my vision board from Anna Quindolin that stated I would be most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who thinking decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves. How beautiful is that Now? Yes, there are countless other ways one can spend quality time with a child and build lasting memories, but reading books worked for me and it is at the core of the many beautiful memories formed with my children. So this year I am once again doing this and hope you will be joining me too. So, whether you are a mom who already reads with her child or not, I challenge you to read something with your child this week and keep my experience in mind Make it fun and make it entertaining for the both of you. These moments are the moments that stay with children for a lifetime.
Speaker 1:If you need a place to start, download my guide on my 10 favorite books and select one from the list to begin reading with your child this year. I have various types of picks in that list and, although so many are my favorite, these were the ones that were in the earlier years. And for those of you who are new moms, just know that there is no age limit. I started reading to my babies while they were in utero. There is no perfect age. The point of making memories is to just do them at any point in their developmental age. It is never too early and never too late. Every moment is a new opportunity to begin your journey of shared quality time with your child. So remember my fellow mom. This is just what I have done to add quality time shared with my children. I hope that if you try this, that it proves to be just as beneficial to you.
Speaker 1:Don't forget to download the list of my favorite books. It's a useful tool and some of these are classics, so I hope you will enjoy them. If you're looking for more self-care tips and parenting wisdom, make sure you sign up for my weekly newsletter, where you will receive one easy self-care tip every Monday, and peaceful parenting tips as well, that are easy to weave into your busy life. Head on over to the link in the show notes and sign up today. Also, I would love and appreciate your reviews, so please don't forget to review this episode if you are enjoying it, and make sure you subscribe to listen to your favorite podcast station Until next week.
Speaker 1:Don't forget to be your most beautiful mom self. Bye, bye. Hi. I'm Elizabeth Camargo 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. Thank you, you.