I'm trying to be more selfish. It's making me a better mom.
A mother reflects on her journey to embrace self-care, arguing that prioritizing her own needs makes her a more effective and patient parent. She challenges the societal expectation that mothers must be entirely selfless, framing self-care as a vital component of healthy parenting.
Why it matters
This piece contributes to the ongoing cultural conversation regarding parental burnout and the redefinition of traditional gender roles in child-rearing.
The author said she thought she was supposed to be selfless as a mother. Experience has taught her that she sometimes needs to focus on herself. Courtesy of Sassica Francis-Bruce. I've realized that being selfish is one of the most important qualities I can develop as a mother. I've learned that spending time focusing on myself, as hard as that can be, makes me a better mom. Modeling self-care to my children is one of the most loving things I can do. Not many would think motherhood is a good time to be selfish, but I have learned that selfishness is, in fact, essential to being a good mom . If I had heard this advice before I had children, and even a year or two in, I would have rolled my eyes and dismissed the statement as ridiculous, abhorrent, immature, and very, very selfish.
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