How I Lost My Mind Over A Bottle Of SmartWater

So, #confessthemess, I may have lost my mind kinda, sorta, just a little, lotta, bit over a bottle of SmartWater.

“Who drank my water?”

Blank stares, slightly aware of the severity but not yet completely afraid.

“Where is my water, who drank my water? Where’s my water?! Help me understand. How many times have I told you guys to leave my water alone? Why do you continue to drink my water? There is plenty of water in the house. It’s not like it’s an irresistible bag of M&M’s. It’s not cake, or juice or a tall cold glass of fresh squeezed lemonade; it’s water,  water,     Room temperature water! Water! Water! Water! You’re In my bed in the morning, Picking off my plate at dinner time, asking me for a popsicle while I’m in the shower. I have Nothing for me but my water. Leave my water alone! Next one of you that touches my water is losing ALL their privileges for 6 weeks, yup, the whole summer. It’s my water, leave it alone!” – End rant. (I actually think I kept going, but no one was listening so my whole Blackout moment went unnoticed as anything more than the usual “Mom’s gone crazy again”)

SmartWater for me has become a bit of a Sanctuary. I don’t do crack cocaine. No heroine for me. I don’t drink coffee. I’ve had to abandon both wine and Pepsi. Despite my recent ankle surgery and issues with chronic back pain, I rarely take pain medications. As my body has become increasingly sensitive to just about anything I put in it, besides fruits and vegetables, I don’t even do Starbucks anymore. (Unless I throw caution to the wind and decide that a frappuccino is worth the joint pain that follows) I’ve had to cut back on so much, although I refuse to forgo chocolate, but I have found a simple pleasure in my special water. It’s one of the few things that make me feel like my  life is not a collection of the moments when my children suckle at my life force.

I am an advocate for self care and as of late I have been focusing a little more on Practicing than preaching; mama’s been a little down and out. I have so many cautionary tales of Mama burnout that have lead me to the constant pursuit of  a life at the Top of the to-do list and I can only hope that they serve as a reminder of just how important self care is.

Don’t yell at your kids about water, you will look more Ridiculous than you can imagine. Instead, find a quiet parking lot and drink your SmartWater, or your whatever, in peace like a Normal mama.