Mom guilt.
I’ve heard of it, you’ve heard of it, and I’m sure at one point or another most of us have experienced it. Lately, I’ve been feeling it quite often. I’ve missed out on two of my best friends’ bachelorette parties recently partly because of it. I just felt so bad leaving my kids that I really didn’t think I could enjoy my time away from them.
Since my second little man was born last year, I’ve had an exceptionally hard time being away from my kids for any significant length of time. I miss them when I’m not with them, even though they sure can drive me B-A-N-A-N-A-S daily. I don’t want to miss out on anything fun with them, and a lot of times I just feel guilty for leaving them. Ah, motherhood. Always a rollercoaster of emotions!
Here’s the thing though — the few times I have been away from them in the past year, it’s always given me the little break that I needed to recharge. Having two young kids so close together is pretty demanding. Heck, having any number of kids any age is demanding! A full time gig. Around the clock. 24/7. Any way you look at it, parenting truly is all consuming … in the best way.
Filling up your cup looks different to everyone. Self care has been a big topic of discussion lately, and I really believe it to be SO important. What does self care look like to you? For me, it’s dates with my husband. Working out. Getting my nails done or going to the spa. Eating a delicious meal (we went to Meril in New Orleans recently and it was AMAZING!)
If you’re feeling drained / exhausted, do something for you and don’t feel guilty about it! Get a babysitter if you can and go get some coffee. If your gym has childcare, go workout for an hour. If you can’t get a babysitter, once the kids go to bed take a bath and read a book! I know it can be easier said than done, but I really think if we make a conscious effort to do something like this every now and then it will be so good for any of us who are experiencing mom guilt. Once we fill our cups, I think we can actually be better moms for our kids!