Let’s be honest for a second, mama…
When did you last do something just for you?
Not for the kids.
Not for the house.
Not for work.
Not for the family.
Just. For. You.
Most of us can’t even remember.
And that’s not because we don’t want to. It’s because somewhere along the way, motherhood quietly taught us to put ourselves last. Not out of force… but out of habit. We get so used to moving for everyone else that we forget how to move for ourselves.
And then one day, it hits us:
We’ve been running on empty for so long that we forgot what “full” even feels like.
Maybe you’ve felt it too.
That little moment in the evening when the house finally quiets down… and you realize you don’t even know what you enjoy anymore.
That feeling of taking care of everyone all day, then crawling into bed with nothing left for yourself.
That quiet voice saying, “I miss me.”
You’re not alone.
So many moms feel this, but we don’t talk about it enough.
And you know what’s wild?
We teach our children to love themselves, to rest when they’re tired, to ask for help, to do little things that make them happy… but we rarely allow the same grace for ourselves.
Why do we believe the rules are different for us?
It’s not selfish to want something for yourself.
It’s not wrong to need care.
It’s not shameful to say, “I matter too.”
You’re a whole human with a life, dreams, feelings, softness, and needs, even if motherhood has made you forget parts of that.
And mama… it’s okay to come back to yourself.
It doesn’t have to be big or fancy.
Sometimes it’s as small as:
- Sitting with a cup of tea before the day starts
- Saying “no, not today” without guilt
- Buying something for yourself without overthinking it
- Taking a breath before reacting
- Resting because you’re tired, not because you’ve earned it
- Doing something that makes you feel good, not just useful
These little moments don’t take away from your family.
They don’t make you less of a mother.
They don’t make you lazy, selfish, or irresponsible.
They make you human.
And a cared-for mom is a better mom. Not because she’s doing more, but because she finally feels like herself again.
As we move toward the end of the year, maybe this can be your gentle reminder:
Your life doesn’t only belong to responsibility.
There’s still space in it for you.
So let me ask you again…
When did you last do something just for you, mama?
And if the answer is “I can’t remember”, that’s okay.
Now is a good time to start remembering.
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