Mum, blogger and freelance TV reporter, Kristen Hewitt, recently shared a post that has a lot of people talking.
She skipped a school assembly, where her daughter was being named on the honour roll, to go to the gym.
She begins her post by acknowledging that she did something that "some may think is selfish" but that it was "really needed".
Hewitt felt instantly guilty, as any mum would, picturing their child on stage scanning the crowd for a face that wasn't there. However, she remembered how difficult the past few weeks had been:
"I started to feel the guilt creep in as I made this tough decision, but then I remembered ME, and how hard Thanksgiving and the week that followed was with my husband travelling."
She recalled "how hard it was to manage my anxiety, the house, the kids, the pets, and work" and that she had not had a "single minute" to herself.
Her daughter was understanding of the situation, especially as her father and grandmother would be attending the assembly:
"I talked to her about how proud I was of her...Guess what. She understood, gave me a hug, and thanked me for all I do for her. She also learned by example today that SELF-CARE matters."
Hewitt defines self-love as making a difficult decision to sometimes put your own needs before others:
"Sometimes as parents we have to make hard decisions and show up for ourselves instead of showing up for our kids. And you know what? It’s not selfish - it’s called self-love."
After the mixed reaction her post received, Hewitt elaborated more on her decision while talking to Romper. She explained that she chose to share the message knowing that people would view her as selfish:
"This is my truth, and it was what was best for me and my family. I don't regret posting it, and and stand by my decision."
She further explained that she was working that evening so the only chance she had to go to the gym that day clashed with the assembly. So she made the decision:
"After a trying month of health issues, I decided before a long day at work I would run and meditate, and clear my head. This was the best choice for me, and the first event I've missed in eight years."
She hopes that other mums will be inspired to "maybe choose themselves every once in a while."
We love Hewitt's message of showing up for ourselves. Especially with the holiday season and all the madness that it brings it can be difficult to find a moment to take care of ourselves.
What do you think? Would you skip school events for self-care?
