The female body is beautiful, and not only because it has the ability to give birth to a new life. History has proven that women are just as great as their counterparts and are far more valuable than their abilities to procreate, even though they were traditionally treated as nothing more than birth canals.
It’s safe to say that the modern world has come a long way from those archaic traditions and stereotypical views of women, but there are still a few backward thinkers from time to time. But those few exceptions to the rule do not, in any way, discount the progress that society has made when it comes to women and their bodies.
Being a mother is no longer expected of women; instead, it is viewed as a choice that women can make if they want to bear children and build a family. It’s not something that’s forced upon a woman just because they failed to use protection, especially since it’s a human child that’s being talked about here.
Motherhood is a choice, particularly because not all women desire to become mothers. In fact, many millennial and Gen Z women are opting out of motherhood altogether because their priorities are much different from what they were in the past. But this doesn’t mean those who choose motherhood are simply victims of their fate.
It’s up to you if you want to become a mother or how you become a mother because pregnancy is no longer the only option. Motherhood can be a beautiful thing if it’s something that you actually want, but you have to remember to take care of yourself too. And here’s how you can do just that:
Seek Medical Attention When You Need It
Raising a child can be very expensive from the get-go because the more children you have, the higher the costs of childcare become. That’s not meant to plant any fear, but it’s a reality that many parents face when raising their kids, which can stop them from addressing any conditions they may have.
It’s no secret that access to healthcare is a privilege that not everyone has. This is why so many parents hide their symptoms and pains from their children because they don’t want to be a burden. Instead, they deal with their own health conditions by self-medicating through over-the-counter drugs and postpone getting the right help for as long as they can.
However, what does this is to leave the health condition unaddressed, which can worsen it to the point that it could no longer be cured. And if you’re sick or unhealthy, you won’t be able to take care of your children because of your condition. It will also worry them, which can defeat your purpose of hiding your condition in the first place.
So rather than allow your conditions to become untreatable, you should become proactive when it comes to your health. For instance, if you’re feeling chronic back pain, then you should go to an acupuncture practice to see if alternative medicine can help you get rid of it before you go to a hospital.
Don’t Forget to Live and Eat Healthily
Choosing to become a mother means that you’ll have children depending on you for the next 18 years of their life. And that duration will extend longer, the more children you have. This means that you must do your best to stay present in their life because they’re going to need your love, support, and guidance before they can stand on their own two feet.
That’s why you can’t be irresponsible with how you live your life. If you’re telling your kids to keep eating their vegetables because they need the nutrients, then you best be sure that you’re practicing what you preach. Your children look up to you because you are their first role model, so be very careful about what you’re teaching them.
Besides, it will be much easier to encourage your children to live a healthy lifestyle if they see you do it first. Start simple by making healthier choices when it comes to food. For instance, you can switch your white bread for whole wheat or choose fresh, lean meat instead of processed canned goods.
Living healthy doesn’t begin and end with your food choices; it also includes your day-to-day activities. So, make sure to be involved in regular exercise — walk around the neighborhood, do some at-home workouts, or clean the house. The point is that you can’t just be sitting down all day because that can lead to serious health problems later on.
You can’t always give your all to your children because if you’re busy taking care of everyone else, who will be there to take care of you? Use some of that motherly instinct on yourself; don’t be afraid to have a bit of self-preservation because you can’t take care of your children if you don’t take care of yourself.
