Self Care Without The Guilt

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I never pictured myself in therapy. I’m not great at talking about my feelings, and for a long time I convinced myself I didn’t need to. But recently I realized something hard and honest: if I’m not okay - if I’m anxious, overwhelmed, stepping away to cry, or melting down from sensory overload - my kids see that. And I don’t want their memories of me to be only the moments when I was barely hanging on. Things I've found help me: 

  • Therapy & honest check-ins. Naming what’s hard lowers the temperature in my body.
  • Micro-breaks. Five minutes alone in the back yard. Deep breaths in the bathroom. A song in my earbuds while the kids watch theirs.
  • Safety plans. Preparing calming activities, predictable routines, and safe spaces so we can de-escalate sooner.
  • Tapping the village. Letting Grammie, Grandma, or my husband step in before I’m past my limit.
  • Compassion for my body. Treating bruises and soreness, stretching, warm showers, and rest when I can get it.
  • Boundaries without apologies. Saying no to extra commitments when our cup is already empty.


The voice in my head says good moms never need breaks. Reality says good moms take them so they can keep loving well tomorrow. My children don’t need a perfect mother; they need a present one. When I care for my mind and body, I’m not stealing time from them - I’m giving them a steadier version of me.

I hope they remember a mom who showed up, who learned, who apologized when she snapped, who took a breath and tried again. I hope they remember that caring for yourself is part of caring for your family. I hope they know I fought for my joy - and for theirs.

If you’re a parent in the thick of it - with big emotions, long nights, and the kind of love that leaves you both full and wrung out - please hear this: you’re not failing. You’re human. Consider talking with a qualified mental-health professional if that feels right for you, lean on your people, and start with the smallest act that makes your next hour gentler.

Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s how we keep going. It’s how we keep loving. And around here, love is the whole point 💕


Kerri


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