How do you 'look after' yourself?

[MrsFabuloso]

Before I had children I used to look after myself fairly well. As in I used to use body scrubs and lotions, polish my nails and give myself pedi/manicures weekly, use facial masks and lotions, use (at home)hair treatments and colour my hair as soon as I noticed it started growing out, go to the hair dresser every 3ish mths, shave my legs/bikini/underarms twice a week....I used to look after how I looked. Took pride I guess, enjoyed doing this stuff for me.

Now I just don't. I don't bother with scrubbing my skin anymore, I just wash with soap and voila it's done! My hair...well I haven't been to a hairdresser for gosh I don't even remember! I don't do nail polish or even look after my nails any more. I cut them short so I don't need to worry. Lucky if I shave once a fortnight now. And my feet, ugh, my feet....they're horrible, no scouring off the yucky bits anymore. They're all rough and gross (it's a pet hate of mine, having yuck feet! You'd think it would inspire me to do it huh?). It's even to the point of not exercising or watching what I eat.

I think because I really don't like how I look after having kids physically I don't bother. But having yucky feet and unmanicured hands are making me feel yuck even more. The stretch marks and saggy skin from being pg will not go away, but taking pride in the things I can and making them look nice will help in making me feel better, right??? And damn, it it's time to get back to it and look after me!!!!

I have just gotten out of these habbits. With two kids 16mths apart, and who seem to have an allergy to sleep, it's hard to find the time. Plus the fact I can't afford some of these things (like regular hairdresser appointments). But alot of it can be done at home and I just don't because of the time factor. But now my kids are better at sleeping (kind of!) and they can entertain themselves a little, so I could put on a face mask for 5mins and wash it off and let them do their own thing for a bit. Or when they're in bed for the night I can colour my hair, do my nails, a pedicure for myself....

So what is it that you miss doing for yourself that you used to pre kidlets? What CAN you do for yourself that you should start doing again. Even just a small 5 min routine you used to do and can start again so you can feel a bit better in yourself??

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

This is what I've done with DS: introduce him to beauty care.

An almost three-year-old is capable of massaging my hand with a sugar scrub and then stroking moisturiser onto it afterwards. With a LOT of praise and me doing his hands too. (I just realised how much of a bad mother I am LMAO. Then I also think I could get him to do my feet too...)

I'm currently having some body hair lasered off just to save myself 10 minutes in the shower. Honestly, I just don't have the time to shave these days. I can make a 30-min laser appointment after work every 5-6 weeks though.

DS also likes dressing my hair. But that is NOT a good thing to encourage.

I'm getting an aerobics DVD after Christmas and DS and I will do it together - we currently dance to the TV so he can do aerobics with me. Keep him fit/get him worn out too.

Just think... wouldn't you love your husband to give you a foot massage and look after you? I'm ensuring I have a very fortunate DiL. See, I'm so selfless it hurts (until I remind DS to go gentle on the massage).

[ladybird11]

I also have a similar age gap in kids, and the only thing I miss now is getting my hair done more regularly - although when the colour does grow out it kinda blends so you can't tell. Thats more of a $$ thing while I'm on half pay maternity leave from work.

Otherwise I've picked up the ball in every other corner, come hell or high water I'll get an hour exercise session each day (I manage to get them to nap at the same time), and I eat healthy - if I'm eating well and exercising I feel great - which has a flow on effect as it has decreased my weight by 23kgs and minused 21cms around my waist.

Nails get done - refills every 3 wks, pedicure, um whenever DH is able to watch the kids, no huge priority for me in the scheme of things.

Once you start doing the little things that make you feel good, you'll glow from the inside out . Remember, if Mama ain't happy - ain't noboby happy!

[Lulu]

I've just had my hair cut and coloured after 2 years....we had no money for butter but I couldn't hack it anymore, HA! I look fab and feel it too

One thing - if you have the scrubs and face/hair masks in the house you will manage to find time to use them. So when it's Xmas and birthday time tell people it's what you want.
I can find the time to use a face mask (highly recommended for awesome feeling), stick in on for 5 mins in the morning before you shower. The kids will kill themselves laughing at you but it's worth it.

I cannot bear icky feet either - little feet packs from the Body Shop don't cost much and you feel a million $$$ with smooth feet. In fact one little pumice type block and moisturiser is all you need.

Do that part before you go to bed.

It's amazing how 10 minutes a WEEK can make you feel better

[Inanna]

Well I am into looking after myself as noone else will! I get my nails done & I get my toes done too! I go to the hair dresser regularly & I swap treatments with a friend. She gives me a massage & I give her a Reiki treatment.

You will feel better for it my love - go and make that appointment...

[fionas]

TBH I've always been a bit rubbish at grooming but decided now I'm hitting my 40s I should get my act together a bit more.

I now get my hair coloured fairly regularly and I think it's worth the expense because it makes me look and feel better.

Manis and pedis - well, still not together in that department except that I've vowed not to go out with chipped polish on show so if they're not looking good, I wear closed-toe shoes. I get them done properly when I go on a Girls Weekend Away so maybe three times a year.

At the moment, luxury is having a shower alone and getting dressed in peace without DD bouncing on the bed or DP bringing her to the bedroom and saying, "let's see what mama's doing." He's learning though that I'm much happier if he gives me that 10 minutes alone where I can actually think about what I want to wear and slap on some moisturiser or some slow-tanning lotion.

[Inanna]

I fully accept my analness.... (Just thought I would clarify I am fully aware of this! )

I work out the night before what I will wear the next day - I do this for the kids too... So it's all ready to jump into.
I am a beads girl - and I always wear beads & or a scarf... I take 10 minutes to do my makeup and another 5 to do my hair... I just feel better, more done, I don't know. I just feel good if I do that for me.

I get my legs wzed and my underarms and I have done for about 25 years! So, they don't need doing very often - maybe once every 8 weeks... I get my eyebrows waxed too at the same time.

I know that I am a "routines" person & that's not for everyone. I just thought I'd share. I find that expecially if I get my stuff ready the night before it's easy and simple.