The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Family chauffeur, meal-planner extraordinaire, homework helper and shoulder to lean on _ when it comes to supporting their loved ones, moms will take on any role to ensure their families are happy and healthy. Yet a recent survey conducted by Leger Marketing reveals that the majority of Canadian moms (60 per cent) feel they simply don't have enough time to take care of themselves _ and 70 per cent don't even rank themselves among their top three priorities in life. Putting others' needs ahead of their own can come at a cost, as too many kids lose their mothers to heart disease and stroke, a leading cause of death for women in Canada. Jessica Holmes, Canadian comedienne and mom of two, knows all too well how the demands of motherhood can overshadow personal needs. 'It took me a few years to figure out the balance after having kids,' says Holmes. 'I would spend every waking moment worrying about my kids, putting my well-being completely aside, because I thought that's what moms are supposed to do. One day I just woke up. I looked at my slumped over posture, my pile of drive thru wrappers, my gym bag/cobweb holder, and the tired bags under my eyes and realized, wow, if I don't start looking after myself, I may not be around for my family. It was a pretty poignant moment. It helped me find the balance and start taking better care of myself too.' When asked what lengths they have gone to in order to make their kids happy, over one quarter of Canadian moms have spent hours making a hand-made Halloween costume (29 per cent), stayed up all night baking goods for a school bake sale (28 per cent), or have done whatever it takes to get their hands on the hottest toy (27 per cent). And while they invest time going above and beyond for their children, at least half of moms, whether they work outside the home or not, still say they don't have time to take care of themselves (64 per cent and 53 per cent, respectively). _ CNW Group
