March 21 16
I have overgrown hair. Like, we’re talking Sister Wife hair. I had intended to get some really great red ombre but that didn’t happen. I have a bit of an ache at the back of my jaw which means that my TMJ is acting up or that I need that root canal that one tooth has been threatening me with for the past few years. I owe my lady parts a pap smear, and I need to get full blood work because that thyroid we are keeping an eye on needs to be seen again. And we are not even going to talk about my eyebrows.

The thing is, though, my kids are probably up to date with all of their appointments. Of course Isabella goes for vision therapy once a week, Josh got a haircut yesterday and Emily’s arms are sufficiently waxed (don’t ask, it doesn’t make any sense to ask any questions of teenagers).  Their physicals are all up to date, their eyes, ears, noses, throats are a-okay. They make it to every dentist appointment and every orthodontist appointment.

That’s the thing about working mothers

(well, that’s the thing about mothers)

(well, that’s the thing about parents)

(well, that’s the thing about busy people)

(well, that’s the thing about people)

Self-care is often that one thing that gets pushed to the bottom of the list. Pathetic case in point: Last week I went for my first pedicure in over a year (my first pedicure that wasn’t done by one of my daughters) and the only reason I went was because my colleague Nicole decided to go shopping instead and already had the appointment booked and paid for it. Fiiiiiiiine, I said. And I went.

But this is a goal for 2016: TAKE CARE OF MAMA.

I booked a wax last week. I am going to get blood work done next week, and have a full physical the week after. This past Friday I went to the Pearle Vision at Scarborough Town Centre to see a (really smart wo)man about my eyes.

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It had been over two years.

Of course.

I want to say this, first and foremost, the #1 excellent thing about my experience: You can book your appointment online. Do you hear me working mothers, mothers, parents, busy people, people? YOU CAN BOOK ONLINE. You don’t need to find a number, you don’t need to call anyone.

Next, excellent thing #2: The doctor explained everything to me. For me, this was huge. Did you know WHY they dilate your pupils at the eye doctor? I didn’t. Do you know what that weird puff of air is for? (PS. they have to do mine about 14 times since I’m Miss Blinks-a-lot) Now I do. I even got to see giant photographs of my eyeballs, which I found to be incredibly helpful and comforting when the doctor explain the health of my eyes. Dr. Wong pointed out my healthy blood vessels and talked to me about my astigmatism and why contact lenses often feel super uncomfortable in my eyes (Read: I want to rip them off of my eyeballs after four hours of wear).

ali-eyeball

Excellent thing #3: While choosing glasses, I was given both fashion and practical advice which is how I ended up buying the Ray Bans in the YOUTH section of the store instead of the buying the exact same pair (for more money) in the adult section. And I made use of their 2-for-1 deal and got my first pair of prescription sunglasses which now I’ll just have to learn do not get thrown to the bottom of the Mary Poppins bag to die a slow and painful death alongside the half-eaten cheese crackers and spare change.

IMG_9289

Up next for me: I will be making an appointment to see a man about that pesky tooth. (Please pray that it’s just TMJ)

IMG_9285

There are nearly 600 Pearle Vision eye care centers located throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico where you can book an appointment online — what’s *your* excuse?

To give you a little incentive to make time for yourself in 2016, BlogHer and I are giving away a $100 Visa gift card. Tell me something you are embarrassingly behind on doing for yourself and you will be automatically entered to win!

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to residents of Canada (other than Quebec) who are eighteen (18) years of age or older and located in Canada (other than Quebec). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 3/21/2016 – 4/17/2016

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  1. This reminds me I need to make an eye doctor appointment. My eyes are so bad that I have to go to an MD for my eyes, which the only nice thing is he doesn’t do the air puff. He has something way less invasive.

    Comment by Kristabella on March 21, 2016
  2. I desperately need to see an orthooedic. Really need insoles!

    Comment by Yael hartman on March 21, 2016
  3. I have a small bump on my neck that I should really get ultrasounded but I keep just monitoring it

    Comment by Chana on March 21, 2016
  4. I am so behind on getting my hair done, getting my eyebrows waxed, and also basic healthcare necessities.

    Comment by Kayla on March 21, 2016
  5. I am behind on flossing.. It has been over a week.

    Comment by Will G on March 21, 2016
  6. https://twitter.com/willgriesmer/status/712032499203969028

    Comment by Will G on March 21, 2016
  7. I am embarrassingly behind on shaving my legs…I just like to say I am hibernating 🙂

    Comment by Brenda Penton on March 21, 2016
  8. I have never even had my eyebrows waxed, nor do I pluck them, but eyebrows seem to be all the rage right now and I’m thinking I need to do something. Do you just see anyone? What if it’s awful? I mean, they are on my face. There would be no hiding them. See? This is why I’ve never done anything about them. Help.

    Comment by Alison on March 21, 2016
  9. I could have written this post myself! I have taken my kids to 5 various appointments in the last 6 days alone, yet can’t manage to make 1 appt for myself.

    I am in desperate need to find and make a dermatologist appt, dentist appt, and get my brows done just to name a few…

    Comment by Krystal L on March 22, 2016
  10. I desperately need a haircut but my salon doesn’t book online and I don’t have it in me to make the phone call. It’s been many months.

    Comment by Hillary on March 22, 2016
  11. A haircut as well! It’s been at least six months. In my defense, I have a five-month-old! haha

    Comment by Rachel on March 22, 2016
  12. My eye Dr. closed his practice a few years ago and it is so difficult to find one accepting new patients…definitely not taking care of myself there:(

    Comment by Elana on March 22, 2016
  13. I’m VERY behind on getting a haircut.

    Comment by Kristen on March 22, 2016
  14. tweeted
    https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/712468140135809024

    Comment by Kristen on March 22, 2016
  15. I haven’t gotten my hair cut or highlighted since last May….oops. Oh and I’ve had a temporary crown in place since the fall and I’ve stopped chewing on that side entirely so I don’t loosen it because I don’t want to go to the dentist and have them take the molds (all the way in the back of my mouth GROSS) for the permanent one. I had a panic attack last time…UGH

    Comment by Laura on March 23, 2016
  16. Shaving…. It has been way too cold and I need all the layers I can get!!!

    Comment by Michelle on March 24, 2016
  17. I’m usually behind on getting a haircut!

    chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com

    Comment by Erika on March 25, 2016
  18. This month I made and attended my first dentist appt in SIZ YEARS. Am so proud of myself! Next pep talk is for the chiropractor. My back and shoulders are so ouchy.

    Comment by Chris on March 25, 2016
  19. SIX, obviously. Come on auto correct…where are you when I need you?! (Not a duplicate comment, sorry!)

    Comment by Chris on March 25, 2016
  20. I need to get a sleep study. I also need a doctors visit

    Comment by tara on March 26, 2016
  21. I am embarassingly behind on getting a proper haircut!! My hair needs to seen an hairdresser badly!

    Comment by Karla on March 26, 2016
  22. I’ve been wearing glasses since I was 4 and could really use a new pair right now, thanks for the chance to win

    Comment by Margo B on March 28, 2016
  23. I had my last eye exam when I was in the 7th grade. and Im 32 now… So…. I keep meaning to make that appointment, I swear!

    Comment by Amy on March 28, 2016
  24. One thing I’m embarrassingly behind on doing for myself is getting some new shoes!! The pair I wear are worn out, but they haven’t fallen apart yet, so I just keep on going until I’m absolutely forced to get a new pair lol 🙂

    Comment by Anastasia Falling on March 29, 2016
  25. Tweeted 🙂 – https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/714670073122840577

    Comment by Anastasia Falling on March 29, 2016
  26. I am really behind on getting my hair cut. It is a lot longer than I am used to or how I want it to be. I just keep putting it off because I have more important things to do.

    Comment by Elle on March 29, 2016
  27. Crap. I totally need to schedule an eye appointment. It’s the fear of the puff test and the hatred of the drops that does me in every single time.

    Comment by Jenn on March 29, 2016
  28. Oh I haven’t taken the time to exercise in months. This mama needs to move!

    Comment by Julie D on March 29, 2016
  29. I am so behind on getting a hair cut.

    Comment by Tina on March 30, 2016
  30. https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/715232117685354496

    Comment by Tina on March 30, 2016
  31. Something I am embarrassingly behind? Cleaning the house for sure. The job seems to be never ending though. As soon as I clean up one room, the others need attention! 😀 Love your information on the post and thanks for hosting the giveaway. 🙂 I always make sure to check my eyes every year.

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

    Comment by Amy Tong on April 1, 2016
  32. tweeted:
    https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/715801928261873665

    amy [at] utry [dot] it

    Comment by Amy Tong on April 1, 2016
  33. https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/717346049787080706

    Comment by OFG on April 5, 2016
  34. Creating a formal exercise routine. I always say I should, but never do. Does walking to the playground with my kids count? I convince myself it does.

    Comment by OFG on April 5, 2016
  35. Going clothes shopping! If I’m looking through photos from 10 years ago I’m so embarrased to discover that I’m still wearing that same shirt now in 2016!!

    Comment by Krista M on April 7, 2016
  36. Going clothes shopping! If I’m looking through photos from 10 years ago I’m BEYOND embarrased to discover that yes, I am still wearing that same shirt now in 2016!!

    Comment by Krista M on April 7, 2016
  37. Tweeted, thanks! https://twitter.com/MillerKrazy/status/718167940428734464

    Comment by Krista M on April 7, 2016
  38. I am behind on a Dr visit

    Comment by Teresa K on April 7, 2016
  39. I’m a huge proponent of yearly mammograms and pap smears yet I’m overdue for both!

    Comment by Kimberly S on April 7, 2016
  40. I do wear glasses and I love to get a new pair. thanks. truckredford(at)gmail(dot)com

    Comment by Elizabeth on April 8, 2016
  41. https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/718519578838478848 truckredford(at)gmail(dot)com

    Comment by Elizabeth on April 8, 2016
  42. I am so bad at keeping up on dentist appointments!

    Comment by Chelsea on April 8, 2016
  43. I have not been to the eye doctor in a looong time.

    Comment by Shannon on April 8, 2016
  44. I am really behind on having a physical exam with my doctor. I can’t even remember the last time I had one! It’s been that long!

    Comment by Amy M on April 8, 2016
  45. My laundry! I make sure everyone else has clean clothes before I do myself!

    Comment by Kerry on April 9, 2016
  46. tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/718868780265402370

    Comment by Kerry on April 9, 2016
  47. I also have a pesky tooth that requires a root canal but keep putting it off. Calling the dentist Monday to finally scheduling it!

    Comment by Dina on April 10, 2016
  48. I’m behind on going to the doctor.

    Comment by maria cantu on April 10, 2016
  49. Am so terrible in scheduling teeth cleaning for myself & son. He keeps telling me MOM when are you going to phone the dentist…and I tell him SOON. YUP I so hate avoidance but you know how it goes with dental cleaning & dental work…always keep it to the end.

    Comment by Heidi Pawluk on April 14, 2016
  50. Well, you caught me at that almost-never-happens point when I’ve just gotten my hair cut, gotten a physical, seen the obgyn, had a mammogram. I guess I had the same goal for 2016!

    Comment by Denise L on April 14, 2016
  51. tweeted – https://twitter.com/dmarie824/status/720700563222974465

    Comment by Denise L on April 14, 2016
  52. Tweet entry! https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/721155056586739713

    Comment by Angel Jacklyn on April 15, 2016
  53. I am embarrassingly behind on getting like 15 cavities filled!

    Comment by Angel Jacklyn on April 15, 2016
  54. I am embarrassingly behind on going to the dentist.

    Comment by Thomas Murphy on April 17, 2016
  55. tweeted
    https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/721575856771108866

    Comment by Thomas Murphy on April 17, 2016
  56. I am behind on getting a pedicure

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

    Comment by Tabathia B on April 17, 2016
  57. tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/721732042791239680

    tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

    Comment by Tabathia B on April 17, 2016
  58. I am behind on getting my eye glass prescription filled!

    Comment by Jessica To on April 17, 2016
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