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I had a moment of realization recently.
It was holiday. Schools were on break and the children were home.
One week with them and I was completely drained. We had three more weeks to go before school resumed.
Don't get me wrong, I love my children and I love to spend time with them. My first is 6 and my last is 2.
I was drained because all the while, my attention was on every other person except myself.
I can be wonder woman, doing the most, saving and caring for every other person except me. Am I the only one guilty of this? (Let me know in the comments).
Being a woman comes with a lot of responsibilities, especially being one who is raising a family. It's almost like the lists of the things you need to get done gets longer each day, and the time gets shorter and shorter.
I broke down.
Was forced to take a break. This was my body telling me to rest. Still I didn't get it. I began to feel guilty. Guilty that I couldn't take care of my family like I wanted during the period. Guilty that I had to send the children away for the holiday somewhere else so that I can rest鈥攂ecause my body had sentenced me to.
Guilty that I was forced to take this compulsory break while every one around me made progress and the world moved ahead.
Then it dawned on me.
The world will keep moving when i die, and everyone I prioritize will keep living when I'm gone.
And if i don't take proper care of me and give myself the attention that I deserve, I won't live long enough to be able to take care of them.
That's the hard truth!
It's easy for women to lose themselves after getting married especially when child bearing starts and you have little children to take care of. It happens a lot where I'm from (Nigeria, Africa).
I believe it's the same for a lot of women out there.
It is believed that the woman's responsibility is to take care of her home. And in trying to do this, most women lose themselves trying to take care of every other person except themselves.
I was heading there until I had this moment of realization.
Now I know that it's completely okay to take proper care of me. It's okay to pursue my dreams and be who I want to be, to prioritize my health and well being because only then will I be in a good state to care for the people I love.
And I'm saying this to you: Rest, and rest easy.
Don't feel guilty that you have to take a break or heal. Pursue those dreams and those passions. Consider yourself while you consider others. Prioritize your well being because only then can you be fit to care for the people you love. Show yourself love as you show others.
Take care of you!
I say again, take care of you. So you can take care of the ones you love.
I hope this is helpful to someone.
Thank you for reading through馃
