I come to you today, fellow Mamas, to discuss that most insidious of all diseases: MamaGuilt. It manifests in multiple guises, playing its evil tricks on our brains, bringing with it its evil siblings: self-doubt and insecurity. It’s what drives us to strive for SuperMama status, a sure path to disappointment and total exhaustion.

All Mamas suffer from this disease. [As a disclaimer, Daddies might suffer from it as well, but since this IS MamaWriters, and I AM a Mama, I’m whining on OUR behalf today].

Mamas have no natural immunity to protect against MG and, though I’m loathe to say it, this particular ailment is incurable. Like many such vile diseases, all we can hope for is control of the symptoms with proper management of the disease.

Outbreaks of symptoms can hit at the drop of a hat, with absolutely no warning. It takes nothing more than a few simple words [usually accompanied by what I can only describe as the infamous Puppy Dog Eyes]. See if any of these sound familiar:

“But, Mom… everyone else’s mom is MAKING treats for the party tomorrow.” [This sentence is almost always heard after 8 o’clock at night when you’re ready to drop and crash after a full day].

“But, Mom… you went on a field trip to [insert name of most boring, uncomfortable spot you can imagine here] with Chris last year. Why won’t you go with my class?”

“I know its 9:30 and I should be in bed, but we HAVE to go get that poster board TONIGHT or I can’t finish my project in class. I’ll get an F!!” [This will, of course, be the first you’ve heard about the necessary poster board, which likely was assigned over a week ago].

“Where’s my white shirt? I HAVE to have that shirt for the band concert!” [You know… the one he stuffed in the back of his closet after the last band concert… dirty].

And finally, try to hear this one in your own voice, screeched as you step on the scales…

“Where the heck did THAT twenty pounds come from?!?!?”

Did you feel the shiver run up your spine? Did the burn in your chest start, even though they were only words on screen? Be at peace, SisterMama… we’ve all been there.

It’s that last, nasty “How did I get this fat??” version of the disease I’ve most recently encountered [for maybe the … ahem… millionth time]. I know the answer. Many calories in and few calories out. But KNOWING and ACCEPTING are two totally different creatures. [Nasty, vile creatures, I might add]. Breakfast, lunch and dinner, where my major form of exercise on any given day is sitting on my butt in front of a computer, laboring [mentally, of course!] over what word will make that next sentence work. The exertion highlight of my week is grocery day.

Yeah… I know the answer. I have to get moving. I have to… arg! … EXERCISE.

At this point, MG kicks into overdrive. I don’t have TIME to exercise! I have laundry to do and meals to cook and, OMG! I have a deadline to write to! [And we won’t even go into how much I hate, hate, HATE to exercise]. I used to walk two miles a day, but I gave that up after we moved out into the county. [Yeah… I have ears. I HEAR those coyotes every night. They’re out there… just waiting for me to walk down that lonely road by myself…. Oh wait. That’s MamaParanoia, a whole different disease and another blog]. Besides… that would be ME time and ME time is so rare and precious, how would I carve any out?

This is where managing your MG becomes so important. Part of managing is judicial application of the little-used Reality Check [well, I hardly ever use it]. You can’t afford NOT to make the time to manage your MG. Those twenty pounds will morph into thirty by this time next year. [Trust me. I speak from experience on the poundage]. Ignoring yourself, your body, your needs can result in a variety of ‘symptoms’ you really don’t want: high-blood pressure, aches and pains, limited mobility, heart disease… the list is long and ugly.

So, as much as I hate exercise, I hate the idea of THAT stuff even more! What to do?

Knowing myself as I do, I recognized it would be an uphill battle. I’d have to trick myself into an exercise program. Walking is out [my MP provides me with WAY too many avoidance excuses for that!]. I won’t go anywhere to do it [MG says I don’t have time to get dressed and leave the house!] If only there was a way to make exercise fun. Simple. Accessible.

My solution? I bought WiiFit. My son already had the Wii. It seemed a logical solution.

How’s it working?

I’m eighteen days into the program. Even my husband is using it! [Competitive creature that I am, I love to beat his scores on the Yoga exercises!!] I’ve lost two pounds. [Hold down your snickering, SisterMamas! At least I haven’t GAINED two pounds!].

Any negative side effects?

Well, the MG prods me a little each morning when I take that hour for myself. But a quick glance in the mirror after I put on my exercise shorts and top usually enables me to push that aside. *shudder* And if that doesn’t, the fact that each exercise session begins with weighing you and charting your BMI does. I am developing a growing dislike for the little voice that exclaims “That’s Obese!” each morning at the weigh-in…and I’m not particularly fond of how that same voice says “Oh!” when I step on the WiiFit board – like I’m straining it’s back or something with my massive girth.   [Dislike as in... if I ever run into that voice in a dark alley, she's going down, baby!].

But other than that?

Well…. Its three weeks and I’m still doing it each morning. And I can’t say that about anything else I’ve tried. More important, I can actually touch my toes when I try now. [I KNOW!!! It amazes me too!!!]

So my advice to all my SisterMamas?

Push through the MamaGuilt. Do your Reality Check and make the decision to make some ME time to do something good for yourself. Whether it’s a regular exercise program or something as simple as taking an hour for a bubble bath with the door locked and no one calling your name, ‘refilling the well’  relates to more than simply creativity. Keeping YOU healthy will allow you to continue to do all the things you want to do for your family.

~ Melissa
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Melissa Mayhue is the author of the award-winning paranormal, time-travel Daughters of the Glen series from Pocket. Book five, A HIGHLANDER’S DESTINY is due out January 2010, followed by A HIGHLANDER’S HOMECOMING in February 2010. You can visit her on the web at www.MelissaMayhue.com or follow her on Twitter at www.Twitter/MelissaMayhue