By Susan Callahan, Anne Nolen and Katrin Schumann
Authors of Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too
Is the world so different today than it was for our mothers? We think so! Modern mothers are trying to be everything to everyone and it’s not doing anyone any good.
After interviewing over 500 women for our book, Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too, we came to this conclusion: the battle is no longer working mothers vs. stay-at-home mothers, feminists vs. traditionalists, or alpha moms vs. beta moms...the battle is inside us.

We are among the first generation of women who were brought up fully believing we could become recognized leaders in all areas of life: industry, politics, personal. According to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the last thirty years labor force participation of mothers with children under 18 rose from 47 percent to 71 percent.  We work, we clean, we cook, we fret, we teach, we hover, we strategize, we volunteer... you name it, we do it! At each and every turn we feel responsible for the happiness of others.
What about our own happiness?
Regardless of whether we work full-time, part-time or stay at home, the following is indisputable:

➢    Ambitious women want results, whether in the home or in the office.
➢    It's hard to tell if we’re doing a good job parenting.
➢    Often, our female role models are either outdated or illusory.

It’s no wonder we always often fail to meet our own impossibly high standards! Psychologist Dr. Helene G. Brenner, author of I Know I’m in There Somewhere, says, “Almost all women live their lives standing outside themselves, always ready to judge their bodies, their feelings and their thoughts from an external standard and find themselves wanting.”

Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too argues that modern moms need to cut themselves a break. A small shift in your attitude—from putting yourself last to sometimes putting yourself first—can make a world of difference. Aren’t you worth it?

Here are a few tips on taking some steps toward making your own health and happiness more of a priority:

1. Steal Five Minutes—wherever you are!
    The next time you have five free minutes, grab it and do nothing. Get to a meeting early and sit quietly in your car; try to forget that extra load of laundry; take a short walk; breathe deeply; pause.

2. Delegate... and Appreciate
    Let your kids make their own beds, and be OK with how they do it! If your husband makes dinner, don’t complain about the burnt hot dogs, but show gratitude.

3. Your Health Matters
    Like clockwork, you take your kids for their annual checkups, to the dentist and to specialists, but over 50% of moms we talked to said they miss mammograms, doctor’s appointments and dental checkups for themselves! Make a master list on the computer of all your checkups, specialists’ names and numbers and dates for visits and then no slacking off allowed...