Motherhood, Career & Me: The Moment I Chose Myself

 

Motherhood, Career & Me: The Moment I Chose Myself

She looked at the clock—11:45 PM.

The house was finally silent. The kids were asleep, emails were answered, and tomorrow’s to-do list had already started forming in her mind.

She sat down for a moment, scrolling through old pictures on her phone. A selfie from years ago popped up—smiling, radiant, full of life. A woman she barely recognized now.

Somewhere between back-to-back meetings, school pickups, late-night presentations, and making sure everyone else was okay… she had forgotten about herself.

She wanted to work out, but there was always something "more important."
She wanted to read a book, but exhaustion won every time.
She wanted to dress up and feel beautiful, but when was the last time she even bought something for herself?

And the worst part? The guilt.
The guilt of wanting time for herself.
The guilt of spending an hour at the salon instead of finishing that work report.
The guilt of choosing a solo coffee break instead of rushing home right after work.

But one day, something changed.
Her daughter watched her getting ready for a work event and said, "Mumma, you look so pretty today!"
She smiled. But then her daughter added softly, "You don’t do this often."
It hit her like a wave.

Was this what she was teaching her daughter? That a woman’s life is meant for endless sacrifice, exhaustion, and putting herself last?

That day, she made a decision. She would stop feeling guilty for taking care of herself.

She started with small things—waking up 15 minutes earlier for herself, taking mindful lunch breaks, dressing up because she wanted to, allowing herself to rest without justification.

And something incredible happened…
She felt happier. Lighter. Stronger.
She laughed more, played more, showed up with more energy at work and home.
She realized that a well-cared-for woman creates a well-cared-for family.

To every working mother reading this:
💛 Taking care of yourself is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.
💛 You don’t need permission to invest in your well-being.
💛 You are not a bad mother for choosing yourself too.

Your children don’t just listen to your words. They watch how you live.
So ask yourself today—What message am I passing down?
Drop a ❤️ if this resonated and share one self-care practice you commit to this week! Let’s normalize thriving, not just surviving.

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