Getting Fit: Families

I was just reading this interesting article from Dr. Nancy Snyderman about women now-a-days trying to do it all and how it's taking it's toll on our health and mental health. I really do know many women IRL who are so stressed these days they're just ready to throw in the towel. The ever increasing pile of bills, the housework, the school meetings, the sports team fundraising, elderly parents needing help, an overworked husband never home-there's never any time to relax and take a few minutes for themselves.

How do you feel? Have you ever gotten sick from all the stress of trying to juggle it all? How did you help yourself?

My gosh can I relate to this.

For the past few years, I've been trying to do it all. This summer it came to a head when my father became seriously ill, and I had to help my mom care for him. I had to juggle work, homeschooling my kids, and traveling back and forth almost daily to take help my mom. And then my husband's business took a serious blow from the downturned economy.

I honestly thought I wasn't going to make it. I was constantly tired, depressed, sick to my stomach and kept having anxiety attacks where  thought my heart was going to explode. I never slept because I replayed and relived all the nightmares of the day and what I knew was coming.

We won't even get into the stress of my daughter starting college, driving, and dating and the antics and theatrics of my pre-teen daughter just going through puberty,  a 15 year-old sulky, wanna-sleep-all-the-time and yell at everybody son, and a 10 year old son that HAS to be the clown wherever he goes.

I cope by walking and exercising. Exercising is my stress reliever. I can lose myself and all my problems by walking--and a WHOLE LOT OF PRAYING, as well.

My father passed away in August. Now trying to help Mom seems even harder, and I thought it would get somewhat easier.

On top of it all, the economic stress has just about done me in. I am looking for full time work, have to figure out what to do with my kids (thank GOD I have a good support system in place), and things are tough around here.

But, I force myself to calm  down, I make sure I am eating okay (well, at times), and I make sure I get to the gym or work out for a few minutes each day. It's my time--and I need it!

I know I am going to make it. But to be perfectly honest--I like my life and wouldn't trade it for the world. I just wish I could call a time out once in awhile, you know?