Putting oneself first is harder than it seems, to me at least. Since becoming a parent, I naturally think of my kids first. What do they want? What do they need? Are they happy? Are they tired? Are they upset? How can I help them?
I rarely ask myself how I can help myself. Others ask me that even less. I don’t fault them — or even myself, though. Society puts an onus on women who are wives and mothers. When we become those things, our priorities shift both in our own eyes and in the eyes of others. Oftentimes, we take a backseat.
It shouldn’t be like that, though. It doesn’t have to be like that. So, take care of yourself, mama. I’m going to try to do it, too. In fact, it’s one of my new year goals. Live the mantra “Self-care is the best care.” I need to embrace it. And actually do it…
It might seem selfish but it’s like takeoff. You’re instructed to put your oxygen mask on before helping others. As a kid and young adult, I didn’t understand why. Why wouldn’t a parent assist their baby first?, I often wondered. It seemed bizarre to me.
As an adult and parent, I get it. I comprehend why. We must be okay to help others, especially our kids. They’re depending on us. They’re watching us. More than what we say, they’re mirroring what we do.
That’s why self care is important. We must take care ourselves in order to best take care of our babies and loved ones.
It’s not selfish. It’s smart. It’s necessary. Self-care is our best care, mama.
It's absolutely critical to take care of yourself! I have to force myself to do it but it's so worth it.