Are Your Priorities Hurting Your Family?

Are your priorities hurting your family? You might be thinking, “I always put my family first, so of course not.”

But that’s where you’d be wrong.

When my first daughter was young, we decided to take a trip to Disney land. I remember listening to the instructions they gave on the airplane as we prepared to take flight, feeling very surprised and angry.

They instructed in the case of an emergency, I should put my oxygen mask on first, then worry about my child. “How dare they!?” I thought, as a new mom. My daughter is my love, my life, I would do anything for her. I would most definitely put her mask on first, making sure she was okay before worrying about myself. 

But as the years passed, I began to see how thinking this way was beginning to take its toll on me. Always putting my children first was leaving me tired, depleted, feeling light like a ghost, not whole anymore.

I started to lose a sense of who I truly was.

I wasn’t happily playing with my children like I used to. I felt too tired at the end of the day to enjoy our bed time rituals.

Life was starting to feel like an endless blur of routines and I was just trying to get through the “daily grind”. At this point, not only was I hurting myself, but I was hurting my family.

As women and mothers, our instincts are to care for everyone else’s needs. But when life gets busy (as it often is), we start to put our own needs on the back burner. Suddenly, having “me” time seems a little selfish. But if you don’t put your oxygen mask on first, how can you possibly help your child when you are gasping for air? You need to take care of yourself first so you can better care for your family and loved ones.

Taking care of yourself isn’t just about eating well, and getting enough sleep and exercise. Its about nourishing your mind and soul too.

If you don’t follow your heart and pursue your passions, you lose a sense of who you are and you give in to the daily grind. Plus, if you continually ignore your passion, what does that say to your children? You’re displaying that creativity is not important. When in fact, its the right-brainers who are taking over this world. 

Pursuing your passions shouldn’t be put off until your kids are grown, or until you retire; and it most definitely shouldn’t invoke the feeling of guilt.

Helping yourself feel fulfilled and happy is the best thing you can do to ensure a happy, loving atmosphere in your home. 

As the saying goes, “When mama’s happy, everyone’s happy.”

You’ve heard all this before, right? So why all the guilt? Why are you ignoring your heart? Why are you still ignoring your passions? Why not do what you love to do – today.

It’s time to put yourself at the top of your priority list.