"Parents and caregivers, please remember to put your mask on first before helping your child. It made sense, but also surprised me. Without the warning, I probably would've done the opposite. As a new mom, I took it for granted that being a good mom meant sacrificing everything for my kids."
"At the time, it didn't occur to me that my daughter was too young to care or even know that it was her birthday, and we probably would have been happier spending the day hanging out alone or with a few close friends in a low-key environment that didn't add to the pressure and workload I was already facing."
A mother reflects on her journey from attempting to do everything for her children to learning that self-sacrifice doesn't define good parenting. As a new mom, she believed showing love meant sacrificing everything, leading to elaborate birthday celebrations and perfectionist parenting that left her exhausted rather than present. This pattern intensified after becoming a single mom. A flight attendant's safety reminder about putting on your own oxygen mask first resonated deeply, illustrating that caring for oneself enables better care for children. Over time, she discovered that prioritizing her own well-being and reducing unnecessary pressure actually improved her relationships with her daughters and prevented burnout.
Read at Business Insider
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