A week ago, I had two wisdom teeth removed. I had it done on a Friday and figured I’d rest over the weekend and be better by the time my husband went back to work on Monday. Well, it didn’t go as planned. The dentist had to crack my bone to get one of my teeth out and that made my healing torture! I’m still healing.
This experience has taught me that I need to know when to give myself a break. With my jaw throbbing, my teeth feeling like they were shaking in my head, I was still trying to work. At night, I would sit at this laptop frustrated with myself that I couldn’t focus. I wanted so badly to stay on top of the schedule I’d set for myself. Really, I was crazy! It took a friend to remind me to take it easy on myself. I needed to rest. Working was only making me feel worse. I couldn’t be so focused on creating my future and ignoring my present pain.
Sometimes we have to know when to say when. I wasn’t doing that. My body forced me to check myself. I think it’s common among women, especially moms. We push forward hard while downplaying what may be going on with us. I was busy making my kids a priority. I was doing drop-off, pick-up, packing lunches, play dates and mommy and me classes while being in extreme pain. My kids got what they always get from me. I did have a day or two in there where they watched more TV than they should have. I was wiped out and couldn’t do more in that moment. I think that’s the day it started sinking in for me that my balance was thrown off. I forgot about putting the oxygen mask on myself first. I made sure the kids were good but I was struggling. I had nothing left to give when it was time for me to work.
I decided to stop trying. I had to give myself some grace and just shut this computer off. Instead of trying to write posts and finish books and structure marketing plans – I took my sick behind to bed! It’s so simple but it took extreme pain for me to see it. Taking the pressure off of myself to be superwoman was freeing. I so believe in taking a step closer to your dream everyday. I keep that firmly in the front of my mind. So much so, that I have a hard time taking a day off of dream building.
Here’s the deal, my dreams don’t work without me. I’ve learned to do as much dream building as self loving. One without the other doesn’t work.
I’ll be getting back to me soon enough. I’ll just keep this in my back pocket as a lesson learned.
How do you balance taking care of yourself with taking care of everyone else?
36 Comments on It took extreme pain but, lesson learned
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I would swear on a stack of bibles that having my wisdom teeth removed was far worse than having either of my children…and one was a c-section.
I had all four of my wisdom teeth out two years ago. The top two were just puled, but the bottom two were impacted, and had to be cut out and the jaw broken. Invest in a mortar and pestle, and crush up those monster pills! I mixed mine in applesauce and took them that way. WAY easier.
I had all 4 of my wisdom teeth extracted years ago. It took lots of time to heal completely but I’m so glad I did it. That first week though…..ohhh, man! It was ROUGH! I hope you feel back to 100% soon!
You definitely have to find a balance! I was reading a post the other day about being SelfIST (instead of selfish) – choosing to say NO because you have too much going on or simply for your sanity.
He had to crack a bone?!?!?! Holy heck, that sounds SO painful!! I am so pleased that thus far I don’t even have wisdom teeth. Fingers crossed it stays that way…
It hurts to have your wisdom teeth out! I’ve learned that I have to slow down and take care of myself, otherwise I’ll end up burning myself out and I’ll be of no use to anyone.
Ouch! I hope you are feel better! I think every mom I know has trouble caring for herself!
Ouch, that sounds painful. I hope that you feel better soon.
O awful. I feel for you. Can be really painful
You poor thing! Wisdom teeth are sooo painful. You have to take care of YOU!
Ouch! And the balance? It’s hard. Especially when we don’t have family in town. So, often my hubby steps in, but I have to be pretty sick!
oh boy. i have 2 wisdom teeth that need to come out. i’m scared!!
they CRACKED your bone? holy hell!!
I make sure to take time off for me at night. But, with the crazy life we moms lead, it can be easy to forget and eventually our bodies will step in and remind us.
I hope this works I’ve tried to comment 3x now!:(
I hope you feel better quickly! Mouth and tooth pain is the WORST!
It’s so important to know our limits, I’m just finding this out now myself!
Oh, I really appreciate you and your persistence. Thanks! I do feel much better now. Too bad I had to learn the hard way when to sit my behind down! 🙂
I have a hard time taking time for myself. I end up feeling guilty for taking time away from my daughter. Sometimes I have to be dead sick to ask for help!
There’s a reason you’re supposed to put on your oxygen first in the plane – so you are charged enough to help others! Take care of yourself!
Oh my gosh a cracked jaw?? That sounds awful! Take care and get better….the posts can wait.
I’m awful at taking care of myself. I recently went to the dentist and need to get my root canal repaired. Fun-Fun.
I write about balance a lot. I can only do so much at one time so I try to just focus until it’s done!
OMG that sounds awful! I had my wisdom teeth but thankfully they did not have to crack my jaw! Hope you feel better
The quote is right. First you have to care for yourself before you are any good to some one else
That’s a tough one, since I know I put everyone’s needs before mine. Right now I should eat…but baby needs me
I’m definitely still working on the whole taking-care-of-myself thing as well. I’m a go-go-go kinda gal so when I don’t have a million things to do I feel like I’m wasting my time and sometimes I get so busy I don’t take the time to do things for myself. Like eat >.<
This is a very important lesson to learn and thank you for reminding me to keep working on that balance!
I do not balance it. Last night was my daughter’s Pre-K graduation and I totally lost it! I was trying so hard to get all the family and friends there on time that I busted out in tears when my camera misfired on a great photo. I realized that I am so hell-bent on taking care of everyone else that I get to the breaking point- and it is not pretty!
When I’m crashing, I just give into it. I walk away from the blog and just let myself rest. It’s so important to take care of ourselves.
This took me a long time to figure out. I used to feel guilty about taking time for myself but it’s so important!
Yep-you’re a mom! I do the same thing. I never find time for MY checkups/dr appointments. I can relate
Yes! You take care of yourself and relax. Take the time you need to get back to the hustle and bustle of life!
Root canals are the worst. Take care of yourself first and foremost. Feel better soon!
I make sure I get my workouts in. Then I do take time to read a book or go to bed early at least once a week.
There are times when you just have to give in. You aren’t any good if you can’t take care of yourself. Gotta take care of you! Feel better!
It is a balancing act for sure. I try to do all that I can to have me time and take care of me. However being a single mom its hard when raising three boys. I am glad you are feeling better>
This is something my husband keeps reminding me. He keeps saying I need to take time for myself.
I certainly hope you are feeling better! I love your comparison to the “oxygen mask” with taking care of yourself first to properly take care of others…I make sure to have some “me” time first thing upon waking, and right before bed, to ensure that my day begins and ends with self-care…different routines depending on if I’m first waking or getting to bed, with same objective…to decompress and just be with me!
Mouth pain is the WORST – it’s soo hard to balance time for yourself when you are used to giving your everything to your family. I really am not the best at it, and need to start!