“You can do anything, but not everything.” – David Allen

As I write this post, I am on a plane with my two-year-old, who is entertained by Sesame Street on her iPad. Yes, I am the parent that uses the occasional screen time to get work (or ANYTHING) done. I sometimes struggle when I am buried deep under a demanding career, corralling a toddler, juggling the delicate balancing act of coordinating family schedules, and squeezing in as much quality time with my husband and daughter. I believe I am safe in saying most parents nowadays feel similar pressures. Now, let us throw into the mix the societal influences of “parent culture,” which insists you are a hands-on parent of perfection while simulating how effortless it all is. Its doctrine states you are immediately required following the birth of your child you forget who you were moments ago. If you do not, the punishment is the harsh judgments of other parents over your seemingly “inattentiveness.”  Let’s be real. Be honest with yourself. This is unattainable. In all attempts to scale this Everest peak of parenthood, you will ultimately deplete yourself to the point where there is no enjoyment through exhaustion. So what is a parent to do?

As the flight attendants stated before takeoff, put your air mask on before assisting others.

Caring for your well-being will make you a stronger, more compassionate parent. Cut out the noise. Slow down your brain. Find those moments of recharge through activities or straightforward enjoyment.

For me, this is yoga, running, and meditation. I have done none of those this week, and my mind is racing, my body is aching, and my fuse is short. Quite honestly, this is not beneficial to me or those around me.

It is up to us to stop this mentality of selflessness and learn to be selfish on occasion! My business is centered on preserving those everyday moments with your children through imagery. Yet, as parents, if we always live in fogginess, we resort to survival mode and do not experience such times. Moreover, then they are gone….

Do not regret missing those moments because you believed it was wrong to put yourself first occasionally.

What do you do to recharge? How do you manage and preserve the YOU time? Let’s use this space to share ideas and support one another to make sure we encourage and judge one another through this journey.