Yes, It’s OK to Unplug From Your Kids! Try a kid detox.

Moms, this one is for you. Yes, it’s ok to unplug from your kids! When helping moms, I often see the underlying reason for “mom burnout” is lack of unplugging from kids.

There are now so many “digital detox” vacations. We know we need to unplug from our electronics here and there. I am certain the increasing amounts of stress and parenting burnout is from never feeling ok to detox from the responsibilities of your kids.

Every study shows parents spend many more hours a week with their kids now than even just 30 years ago, yet the studies also show that moms now feel ever increasing guilt about not spending enough time with their kids!

Sure you might get away for a day and even do somethings for yourself that feel nourishing.

But…you think about your kids often. You feel like you still have to be plugged into them, even while you are away.

Trying to rejuvenate yourself while energetically staying plugged into your kids is like trying to get restful sleep while also trying to take notes in the middle of a meeting at work- a one eye open type sleep. It is like a “how are my kids, are they ok?” kind of relaxation.

Dad’s are often pretty great at unplugging while they are away. Ask your husband or partner if he thinks a lot about the kids when he’s out mountain biking, fishing, watching a game? Most likely it’s NOPE. We can learn from them! Would you even want him to be worrying about you all while he was gone? NOPE!

To ease your fears about unplugging, as parents we always have an energy cord plugged into our kids. The cord from our first chakra to their first chakra. How does that work? The first chakra cord is always there because it’s the “safety/survival” chakra. It often stays there until around age 18. This is why kids venture out on their own at that age, they need to be responsible for their own safety survival to gain confidence in themselves and to “find” themselves.

So, with this first chakra cord you will be able to have that intuitive knowing if your child needs you, even when you get away to take care of yourself.

The subtle but important difference in keeping the first chakra cord, but unplugging from your kids is that you release all other cords to your kids. When you go away to recharge, you release the responsibility for them being OK on all the levels you usually tend to during the day. This is especially hard, and important, for stay at home moms and moms who work part-time, since so much of the responsibility of their child staying safe, fed, nourished during the day/week/month/year is up to you and hard to let go.

The best way to release the responsibility is to imagine your kids safe and protected before you go. Send them the intention that you trust them to be safe, to be nourished by whomever is caring for them while you are gone. Tell yourself, “I release my responsibilities for you today. I trust your caregiver will offer you exactly what you need. I allow myself to return to myself, my needs, my desires for the day” (or for however long your time away).

Our worries keep us plugged into our kids when we are away, and that isn’t great for us or them! They feel a sense of worry when you are gone, since you are sending that feeling their way. Help them trust themselves and their caregivers by sending a feeling of love, trust, peace their way, while you are gone.

You will feel a lot more rejuvenated and relaxed when you really let yourself “off duty” for the time away. You will enjoy coming home to your kids a lot more once you’ve actually unplugged your responsibility for them once in a while!