How can this be?
How can people really believe it is OK to blast a new mother for having dinner with her husband?
Megan Gale recently gave birth to her second child, a baby girl, Rosie.
Ten days later, the mum-of-two and her husband went for dinner, sans children.
Are you up in arms yet? No? Good, you shouldn't be.
Posting a photo to Instagram, the mum had revealed her kids were with their grandmothers, allowing Megan and her husband, Shaun, have some time for themselves during the chaotic journey of parenting.
"With about 10 minutes to get ready my man and I are out for a quick dinner date. Missing our babies, but SO important for parents to have some couple time when/if they can grab it."
Now for some reason or other, the internet seems to believe that it wasn't OK for the parents to leave their children with their grandparents for an hour while the couple were out eating food.
Terrible parenting skills, right?
We're firm believers at MagicMum that if you have the help of friends and/or family, you should grab it with both hands, because no matter if your kids are newborn or two-years-old, you all need a time out.
Time away from children is hard, and chances are you'll spend the entire time even if it is just an hour, missing them, but it is necessary.
It is necessary for mum and dad to unwind, to connect with each other, to see how they are coping and to have some space - it's what makes us better parents.
Megan edited her post soon after she received backlash to explain her 'actions'; while we don't believe she should of had to take this route, the mum's sentiments are important for everyone to note.
"For sure we have to devote the majority of our time to our kids. However, IF it can be managed well, stealing an hour or two, here and there as a couple or an individual is a 'win' for parents."
"In this instance we had left Rosie with my very experienced and capable mum after I had bathed, dressed, fed her and put her down plus I'd expressed enough milk for two feeds just in case."
Megan went on to divulge Rosie's sleeping habits, and how long the couple calculated they could be out for dinner before they were needed home.
Moreover, the mum-of-two explained when her first child came into the world, her son, River, she barely left the house for the first six weeks: "Out of fear, out of guilt and I lost a little part of myself and developed what I now feel was a mild case of post natal depression."
"If you've ensured your child is well looked after in your absence, then there is nothing wrong with some alone time as a couple or as an individual. You'll be happier people for it and more importantly, better parents."
We're with you Rosie - there is absolutely nothing wrong with having some time to yourself, parenting is the toughest gig of them all, embrace your alone time.
What do you think mums?
