The role of a mother requires wearing many different hats depending on your family, from caretaker to breadwinner, cook or cleaner, best hug-giver, or a combination of them all! Therefore, it is understandable that certain discussions might have been pushed aside and forgotten amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life. Luckily, this post is here to remind you of a few meaningful conversations that can help further your mission to give your children the best life possible.
Meaningful conversations include: What are your family values?
This question may seem like it has an obvious answer, but take a moment to reflect on the last time you really spoke with your family about this? For some, this could include rules, faith, traditions, morals, ethics, or other family values that you wish to instill in your household and live your lives by.
But how exactly do you go about discussing these values that are important to you? The first rule of thumb is to be intentional in communicating.
For young children, especially, being clear and concise takes away from any confusion. And as your children begin to grow, offering a listening ear, and giving valuable advice during life lessons can help shape your children in becoming outstanding people.
What happens when you’re gone?
No mother wants to imagine what would happen if they were suddenly no longer with their family, but this is one of the most important questions to ask yourself. With children comes financial responsibilities, and ensuring that you have a plan set in place to support them even beyond your time allows them comfort and security for years to come.
Finding the best insurance to match your family’s needs includes looking at your current financial status, family income, and the number of dependents you have to decide which type of coverage and plan can benefit you the most. For working moms, it is apparent that your source of income would need to be covered to help your family in case of any unexpected events, but stay-at-home moms should also consider seeking some sort of life insurance coverage— whether it be term or whole life insurance.
If you need some data to back it up, the average stay at home mom’s monetary value is $162,581 annually, which includes the cost of childcare, house cleaning, transportation, and more. For that reason, parents should have an honest and open discussion about how they can best support their loved ones past their time.
When is enough? Final thoughts on meaningful conversations
Whether moms like to admit it or not, there are only so many hours in the day. From the moment you open your eyes to when you lay your head on the pillow, most mothers can usually say that they are exhausted. An important talk to have with yourself is to decide where to draw the line in your schedule and to learn the value of saying “no.”
Kids require lots of attention and energy between car rides, diapers changes, playdates, and countless other activities. While you may feel the desire to fulfill all their wants, be honest with yourself and set boundaries so that you don’t spread yourself too thin.
Time set aside for your own needs is also crucial, as when you prioritize taking care of your mind and body, you are better able to serve your children. So, by finally planning the vacation you’ve been putting off, establishing healthy sleeping habits, or politely declining an offer to volunteer at your child’s school, you are learning the importance of valuing your time.
We applaud you for all the work that you do for your family, mammas. A great deal of your time is spent doing things that often go unnoticed, but by having these conversations, you are giving back to yourself and loved ones in a purposeful way.