"After returning home from a full day of working as a project manager at an event management company, I cooked dinner, got the kids bathed, folded laundry, and prepared for the next day. The night was punctuated with raised voices and tears from the kids and from me. Mine were shed after I escaped to the bathroom for two minutes of alone time."
"As I headed to bed, exhausted, I dreaded the next day, angry every evening because I had nothing left for myself or my family. I vowed to prioritize my needs. Doing so benefited my well-being and strengthened my relationship with my kids. I had bought into the idea that sacrificing my needs made me a good mother, but I discovered the opposite was true."
"Since my children were young, I've always made sure to set aside one hour after everyone goes to bed just for me. I realized in the early days of parenthood how easy it was to get sucked into the unending to-do list. Motherhood pulled so much from me both mentally and physically that finding some time for myself became a priority."
A mother of four prioritizes a daily, protected final hour after the children go to bed to reclaim personal time. The habit originated after an overwhelming evening of work, household duties, and emotional strain made change necessary. Reserving that hour allows reading, watching, or sitting in silence for mental and physical replenishment. Early parenthood demanded flexibility as sick children and teething sometimes interrupted the hour, but protecting and adjusting the time preserved the routine. Prioritizing personal needs reduced resentment and exhaustion, improved well-being, and strengthened relationships with the children.
Read at Business Insider
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