Have Your Tea & Drink it Too! by Cordelia Elizabeth Spence
My review: ★★★★
This is a good book for the frazzled parent whose energy tank is running dry. If you are feeling tired, frustrated, overwhelmed, and having trouble getting through life, you need to put more thought into self-care. Self-care is not a luxury, but a vital part of keeping your own self in working order.
This book is a swift read – you can probably get through it in an hour or two – and is well worth the small amount of time it takes to go through. I like its direct and practical approach. No fluff, just common sense. I do wish it was a little less directed at moms and more generically inclusive of all parents. Everybody needs self-care these days. But dads, the guidance in here works just fine for you, too.
The book starts with an explanation of what self-care is and why it’s important. It covers a list of different facets of your well-being that might be getting neglected, and ideas for how you might nourish them. It’s also partly a workbook for you to write down your own thoughts in. It ends with an encouragement to write down your own self-care plan.
Personally I don’t derive pleasure from writing down lists, plans, and schedules – but there are definitely people who find that writing these things down helps them feel more centered. Even for folks like me who don’t want to write it all down, this book is a good reminder to be mindful as well as a source of inspiration and ideas for ways to take care of yourself.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go enjoy some tea. 😉
