Go Ask Mom

Amanda Lamb: Turn off

Rest actually makes us better at everything we do. Just like the advice you get when your phone or computer isn't working -- turn it off and turn it back on again; it will most likely fix the problem.

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Amanda Lamb
By
Amanda Lamb
, WRAL reporter

“I need a rest day,” my friend’s 11-year-old announced one morning as she was trying to get him ready for school. He was lying in bed reading a book.

Like most kids, he has a dizzying schedule full of school, sports and extracurricular activities. This doesn’t even take into account family time.

My first reaction was to think about how we are all over scheduled and stressed out. And while I am a Type-A person who generally thrives on intensity, even I believe we need to put the brakes on before we break.

Have you had moments recently where you think: “If one more person asks me to do one more thing, I’m going to lose it?”

I know the poor recipient of that breakdown will be someone who doesn’t deserve it — like someone asking me to volunteer for something or someone who asks me to do one more task at work or one of my children.

The only remedy to this constant state of chaos that seems to be swirling around us is to take an intentional break — whether it’s reading a book, taking a walk or napping, we all need to turn our phones and our brains off at least once a week, adults and children. If we as parents don’t model this behavior, our children will never learn how to do this.

Rest actually makes us better at everything we do. Just like the advice you get when your phone or computer isn’t working — turn it off and turn it back on again; it will most likely fix the problem. People work the same way ...

Amanda is the mom of two, a reporter for WRAL-TV and the author of several books including some on motherhood. Find her here on Mondays.

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