I’ve gone back & forth about writing about this topic since it’s a touchy one — but, I feel strongly about it so I’m just going to go for it! If you’re a super judgy mom-shamer, this post is not for you.
“Ain’t no ‘hood like motherhood.” While motherhood is so very beautiful & unlike any other experience, it can (but mostly likely will) also be the scariest & hardest job you’ll ever have. While, of course, having a baby is rewarding and gives you all the feels you never knew were possible, a lot of people just don’t talk about “the other stuff.” The toll of a poor night’s sleep, the constant anxiety of wondering if you’re doing it “right,” and the ever-present mental battles of all the controversial topics that lead to mom-guilt one way or the other: breastfeeding vs. formula feeding, co-sleeping or letting your kid cry it out and all the way down to how big or small you cut your baby’s first solid foods, etc etc etc. So why do we, as new moms thrown into a 24/7 role that nothing could ever possibly prepare you for, have to also feel guilty and ashamed about needing/wanting a smidge of time to ourselves to do whatever we please? Calling total BS over that one and I think it’s even crazy that we have to call this “self-care.”