Engage in Activities That Bring You Joy and Fulfillment Alongside Your Parenting Role
Remember that thing you used to love—like playing ukulele, baking bread, or just sitting still for five minutes? Yeah, it’s still legal to do that, even if you have a small human glued to your leg. This is about squeezing a little 'you' back in between diaper changes and snack negotiations, and maybe—just maybe—feeling like a person again. Spoiler: happiness is contagious (and sometimes sticky).
When you do things that light you up, your brain gets a hit of dopamine (the good stuff), which boosts your mood and makes you more resilient to tantrums—yours and your kid’s. Modeling self-care teaches your child that joy isn’t just for grown-ups with free time (ha!), and it helps wire their brains for curiosity and emotional regulation. Plus, happy parents = less yelling about socks.
How to do it
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Pick something ridiculously tiny to start with—such as doodling for one minute or reading a single page of a book. The goal is to make it so easy that you can’t say no.
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Stash your supplies in plain sight. For example, your knitting needles can live next to the sippy cups. Keeping things accessible makes it easier to jump in when you have a spare moment.
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Announce to your child, “Mommy/Daddy is doing their fun thing now,” even if your only audience is a stuffed giraffe. This helps set the expectation that your time is important, too.
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Expect interruptions, embrace chaos, and accept that your “me time” may include a small assistant. Flexibility is key.
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Celebrate any moment you get, no matter how brief, and repeat whenever possible. Every little bit counts.
Tips:
- Keep your chosen activity simple and low-pressure.
- Visual reminders (like supplies in plain sight) can help you remember to take your moment.
- Involve your child if needed—sometimes “me time” is shared time.
- Be kind to yourself if things don’t go as planned.
- Consistency, not perfection, is the goal.
