Ask Emily: ‘Me’ time for mom
By Casey Gillis on Feb. 23, 2010
Dear Emily: I have two young children, a part-time job, and no time to myself! I am about to go crazy if I don’t get some “me” time, but every time I suggest doing something on my own, away from the kids, my husband freaks out about watching the kids on his own. That, in turn, makes me feel guilty about asking for this time. So should I just accept that I’m doomed never to get a break? – Mayhem for mom
Dear Mayhem for mom: An overworked, unhappy mom will eventually lead to an unhappy family. After all, if you have a breakdown, your family will be left to pick up the pieces. And this is not an exaggeration. If you keep working yourself to the point of mental and physical exhaustion, there are bound to be consequences. So stop coddling your husband and get over that guilty feeling. I am sure he is capable of watching the kids a couple of times a month while you regain your sanity. You deserve it, and more importantly, you need it.
Dear Emily: Is it possible to over exfoliate? I bought a body scrub at a health store and use it every day. I noticed my skin is getting a little red and irritated and thought maybe all that exfoliating wasn’t a good idea. But I thought getting rid of dead skin cells was a good thing? – Scared to scrub
Dear Scared to scrub: Whenever you buy a new product, make sure to carefully read the label. The scrub you bought may not be intended for daily use. Removing dead skin cells is a good idea, yes, but it can be overdone. Exfoliating can dry out your skin and aggravate it. See a dermatologist to make sure you are not having an allergic reaction to your scrub. If you are not, you may simply have to cut back on your usage or switch to a milder brand.
Dear Emily: I am tired of my friends, and guys, thinking of me as being “cute.” I am seventeen-years-old and want people to think of me as hot—not just a sweet, pretty face. So how do I go about changing my image? – Seventeen and sassy
Dear Seventeen and sassy: Take a lesson from the celebrities; they change their images all the time to stay current. But what they don’t do is change drastically overnight or change into something they are not. For example, you should feel free to explore new clothing styles, cut your hair into a new do, and flirt with some fun shades of make-up. But what you shouldn’t do is try to be like someone else, changing everything about yourself all at once. This will just seem fake to people around you and make you feel uncomfortable in your own skin. So buy some magazines and start collecting photos of the celebs and models you like; get some image ideas for yourself. Then make a few changes to your appearance one step at a time. A word of caution:
it’s fun to change your image once in a while, but be careful of changing your personality. It is always best to stay true to yourself.
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