Mommy Guilt is just another way we torture ourselves over every decision we make as Moms. And for most of us, the Mommy Guilt REALLY kicks in when we miss out on time with our family to make time for ourselves.
For me, it sucks the life out of a stress-relieving Sunday morning run, a romance-rekindling night with my hubby, and a long-overdue getaway with girlfriends because I end up obsessing over the homework I’m not there to help with or the dinner we’re not eating all together.
So one day when it was getting the best of me I remembered what my friend Nancie once told me. “If you don’t like how something looks, change the way you look at it.” And I realized I had to change how I looked at making time for myself, so as NOT to end up wracked with guilt. But how?
And then it came to me. My light bulb moment that changed it all. I had finally found a way to look at it differently.
It’s as simple as this……
Think about what they tell you EVERY time you fly on a plane. If a problem arises and the oxygen masks fall, PUT YOUR MASK ON FIRST BEFORE YOU HELP THOSE AROUND YOU.
And why do they tell us this? Is it because the cabin crew secretly want us to be selfish? Or perhaps they want us to be mean to our traveling companions and kids? NO. It’s because, in order to help others you first have to take care of yourself. Because if you aren’t giving yourself the oxygen to breathe, you won’t be around to save anyone else.
It was that simple. Looking at it this way, I was finally able to kiss Mommy Guilt goodbye.
Now ask yourself, what do YOU need?
Is it a morning run to start your day? To take that course you’ve been thinking about? Go back to work? Spend time with girlfriends? Whatever it is – if that’s what it takes to let you breathe…. to allow you to feel whole and happy, then it’s nothing to feel guilty about. If you are feeling fulfilled then you can be there to fulfill everyone else’s needs as well.
So the next time you feel Mommy Guilt creeping up on you – imagine that oxygen mask falling and remember what the cabin crew are telling you. Put your mask on first.
Has Mommy Guilt be eating YOU up? How have you dealt with it? I hope you’ll leave a comment below, and be sure to connect with me on Facebook and Twitter. I look forward to hearing from you………
– Meryl
There IS life After Mom. What will YOURS look like?
